<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from MP&L's
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1994 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000066901
<NAME> MISSISSIPPI POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      959,927
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     11,155
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         230,340
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       428,023
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,629,445
<COMMON>                                       199,326
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      (1,762)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            232,011
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 429,575
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           31,770
<PREFERRED>                                     57,881
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           475,233
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              30,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   65,965
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        552
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 538,469
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,629,445
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      847,888
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,651
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     735,480
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     752,131
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         95,757
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,719
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 100,476
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        51,697
<NET-INCOME>                                    48,779
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,404
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   41,155
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        45,600
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       (119,726)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0