<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements filed as Exhibit 99 and is qualified in its entirity by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000066904
<NAME> MISSISSIPPI POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>               12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                           DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                1,020,672
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    979
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                     107,787
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    60,167
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,189,605
<COMMON>                                    37,691
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  179,800
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                        173,740
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             391,231
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       35,000
<PREFERRED>                                 31,809
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       122,744
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          13,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                  170,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>               50,020
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             375,801
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            1,189,605
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  595,131
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        34,499
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 480,260
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 514,759
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     80,372
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           3,280
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              83,652
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    26,542
<NET-INCOME>                                57,110
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  2,005
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               55,105
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    51,700
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   21,131
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      93,086
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0