<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form 10-Q for September 30, 2000, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000092122 <NAME> THE SOUTHERN COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> Sep-30-2000 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 25,119,366 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 8,399,122 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 7,467,076 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 2,546,345 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 43,531,909 <COMMON> 3,503,112 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 1,205,734 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 4,670,841 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 9,379,687 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 2,320,175 <PREFERRED> 368,126 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 3,971,526 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 3,499,989 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 7,883,576 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 2,017,809 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 339,212 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 92,123 <LEASES-CURRENT> 3,079 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 13,656,607 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 43,531,909 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 13,247,213 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 611,408 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 10,640,598 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 10,640,598 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 2,606,615 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 306,669 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 2,301,876 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,086,736 <NET-INCOME> 1,215,140 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 14,259 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 1,200,881 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 655,135 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 2,307,909 <EPS-BASIC> 1.85 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.85