<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for September 30, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000066904
<NAME> MISSISSIPPI POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                           DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                                SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                     1,010,054
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                         648
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          129,870
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                         66,743
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                1,207,315
<COMMON>                                                                         37,691
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                       179,715
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                             182,526
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                  399,932
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                            35,000
<PREFERRED>                                                                      31,809
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                            172,736
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                       170,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                        20
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                             0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                           0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                      0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                  397,818
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                 1,207,315
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                       470,467
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                             31,716
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      369,094
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      400,810
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                          69,657
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                2,483
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                   72,140
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         20,229
<NET-INCOME>                                                                     51,911
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                       1,502
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                    50,409
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         38,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                           85,125
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0
        



</TABLE>