<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from the Form 10-Q for June 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>                                                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    Dec-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                         Jun-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                             24,890,913
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                            7,964,396
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 4,135,121
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                               2,531,060
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        39,521,490
<COMMON>                                                               3,503,112
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              1,146,940
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                    4,270,781
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                         8,920,833
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  2,321,945
<PREFERRED>                                                              368,126
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                   3,935,654
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                     2,428,789
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                              8,384,256
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                         2,300,606
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                            385,051
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                               92,845
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           2,763
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                        10,380,622
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         39,521,490
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                              5,768,236
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                     210,154
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             4,429,815
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             4,429,815
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                1,338,421
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       179,296
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                         1,307,563
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                 710,757
<NET-INCOME>                                                             596,806
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                9,458
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                            587,348
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                 437,846
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                      0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                 1,144,612
<EPS-BASIC>                                                                 0.90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.90