<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the Form
10-Q for March 31,  2000,  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-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                         Mar-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                             24,693,341
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                            7,983,542
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 3,313,986
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                               2,460,645
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        38,451,514
<COMMON>                                                               3,503,110
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              1,146,911
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                    4,161,910
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                         8,811,931
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  2,326,015
<PREFERRED>                                                              368,230
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                   3,933,881
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                     2,192,324
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                              8,113,176
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                         2,333,872
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                            376,372
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                               93,567
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           2,547
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                         9,899,599
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         38,451,514
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                              2,572,587
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                      61,510
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             2,003,211
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             2,003,211
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                  569,376
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                        95,141
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                           603,007
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                 352,868
<NET-INCOME>                                                             250,139
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                4,695
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                            245,444
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                 220,557
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                      0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                   336,147
<EPS-BASIC>                                                                 0.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.38




</TABLE>