<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for June 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>                                                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               23,743,355
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                              5,785,389
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   3,853,622
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                 2,372,588
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          35,754,954
<COMMON>                                                 3,488,988
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                2,418,469
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                      3,895,275
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                           9,802,732
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    1,989,675
<PREFERRED>                                                443,914
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                     6,218,098
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                         744,809
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                4,577,159
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                           1,094,131
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                              553,761
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                    8,661
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                134,349
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                             4,624
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          10,183,041
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                           35,754,954
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                5,427,096
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                       300,183
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                               4,188,089
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                               4,488,272
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                    938,824
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         187,757
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                           1,126,581
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   601,041
<NET-INCOME>                                               525,540
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 13,065
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                              512,475
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                   466,072
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                        0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                   1,096,656
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    0.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0.74
        


</TABLE>