<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for December 31, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000066904
<NAME> MISSISSIPPI POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                        12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                                     DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                     1,000,387
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                         650
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          104,940
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                         60,852
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                1,166,829
<COMMON>                                                                         37,691
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                       179,716
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                             170,417
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                  387,824
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                            35,000
<PREFERRED>                                                                      31,896
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                            211,665
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        80,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                    35,020
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                             0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                           0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                      0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                  385,424
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                 1,166,829
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                       543,588
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                             31,968
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      433,664
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      465,632
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                          77,956
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                3,813
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                   81,769
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         24,472
<NET-INCOME>                                                                     57,297
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                       3,287
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                    54,010
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         49,400
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                        20,246
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                          115,257
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0