<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION FOR THE
QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000003146
<NAME> ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      276,873
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        396
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         127,336
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         7,312
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 411,917
<COMMON>                                            20
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       34,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             93,501
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 128,005
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           125,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 158,912
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  411,917
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       83,305
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                               866
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      78,384
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      79,250
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          4,055
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 510
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   4,565
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,758
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,807
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    1,807
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,350
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        2,211
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           3,445
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Alabama Gas Corporation (Alagasco) is a subsidiary of Energen Corporation.
Earnings per share is not calculated for Alagasco as amount would not be
meaningful.
</FN>