<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> 0000092122
<NAME> THE SOUTHERN 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>                                                         23,758,338
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                        5,762,707
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                             4,011,708
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                           2,418,955
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                    35,951,708
<COMMON>                                                                           3,441,594
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                          2,461,899
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                                4,186,893
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                    10,090,386
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                              1,991,220
<PREFERRED>                                                                          405,912
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                               5,313,729
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                   424,109
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                          5,383,541
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                       945,982
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                        949,929
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                            238,002
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                       4,736
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                    10,204,162
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                     35,951,708
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                          8,883,881
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                                 615,693
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                         6,578,130
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                         7,193,823
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                            1,690,058
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                   263,391
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                     1,953,449
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                             905,908
<NET-INCOME>                                                                       1,047,541
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                           19,037
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                      1,028,504
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                             699,835
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                                  0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                             2,027,244
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                           1.48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                           1.48
        


</TABLE>