<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the Form
10-Q for June 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>                                                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                1,008,838
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                    649
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     150,149
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                    57,269
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           1,216,905
<COMMON>                                                    37,691
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                  179,715
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        167,017
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                             384,423
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       35,000
<PREFERRED>                                                 31,809
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       172,505
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                               0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  170,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                               40,020
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                             383,148
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            1,216,905
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                  278,768
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        14,935
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 228,343
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 243,278
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     35,490
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                             772
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              36,262
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    13,163
<NET-INCOME>                                                23,099
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    999
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               22,100
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    25,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                        0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      34,925
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0
        


</TABLE>