<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for September 30, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000003153
<NAME> ALABAMA POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                     SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                     7,047,212
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                     220,495
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          948,356
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                        627,932
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                8,843,995
<COMMON>                                                                        224,358
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                     1,304,744
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                           1,246,219
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                2,775,321
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                           297,000 
<PREFERRED>                                                                     278,400 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                          2,213,207 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                             0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                  419,936
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                   129,600 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                             0 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                       6,387 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                    976 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                2,723,168 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                 8,843,995 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                     2,395,303 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                            184,922 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                    1,711,689 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                    1,896,611 
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                         498,692
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                               13,264
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                  511,956
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        184,903
<NET-INCOME>                                                                    327,053
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                      14,309
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                   312,744
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                        251,800
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                          529,630
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0
        



</TABLE>