<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for March 31, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000092122
<NAME> THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                                              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                     DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                                          MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                         23,698,961
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                        5,775,256
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                             3,139,435
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                           2,409,587
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                    35,023,239
<COMMON>                                                                           3,484,735
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                          2,400,654
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                                3,858,263
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                     9,743,652
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                              1,789,980
<PREFERRED>                                                                          452,575
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                               6,172,722
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                   652,477
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                          4,113,789
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                     1,292,762
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                        889,538
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                             40,684
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                          133,247
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                       4,470
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                     9,737,343
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                     35,023,239
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                          2,513,715
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                                 142,113
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                         1,923,452
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                         2,065,565
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                              448,150
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                    81,120
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                       529,270
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                             280,928
<NET-INCOME>                                                                         248,342
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                            6,640
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                        241,702
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                             232,449
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                                  0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                               563,866
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                              0.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                              0.35
        





</TABLE>