<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from MP&L's
financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 1995 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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      963,119
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     11,152
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         219,686
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       397,472
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,591,429
<COMMON>                                       199,326
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       (1,661)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            231,778
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 429,443
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           23,770
<PREFERRED>                                     57,881
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           475,279
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              42,319
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   25,965
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        519
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 536,253
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,591,429
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      193,324
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,363 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     167,691
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     171,054
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         22,270
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 297
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  22,567
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        12,793
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,774
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,707
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    8,067 
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          51,840
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0