<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the Form
10-Q for  September  30, 1996,  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-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                       986,218
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                       3,081
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           94,795
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                         55,096
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                1,139,190
<COMMON>                                                         37,691
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                       179,761
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                             170,437
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                  387,889
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0 
<PREFERRED>                                                      74,414
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                            246,312 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                               16,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        30,000 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                    35,010 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                             0 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                           0 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                      0 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                  349,065 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                 1,139,190 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       420,306 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                             27,477 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      329,394 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      356,871 
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                          63,435
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                2,890
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                   66,325
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         17,772
<NET-INCOME>                                                     48,553
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       3,674
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                    44,879
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         31,900
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                           93,316
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         0
        


</TABLE>