Exhibit 4.8-A


                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                              CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
                                       OF
                       SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST VII

     THIS Certificate of Amendment of Southern Company Capital Trust VII (the
"Trust") is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned trustee to amend
the Certificate of Trust of the Trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12
Del. C. ss. 3801 et seq.).

     1. Name. The name of the Trust is Southern Company Capital Trust VII.

     2. Amendment of Certificate of Trust. The Certificate of Trust of the Trust
is hereby amended by changing the name and business address of the trustee of
the Trust in the State of Delaware to: The Bank of New York (Delaware), 100
White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark, Delaware 19711.

     3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Amendment shall be effective upon
filing.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the Trust has executed this
Certificate of Amendment.

                                             THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                             (DELAWARE), not in its individual
                                             capacity but solely as trustee



                                             By:   /s/Kristine Gullo
                                             Name: Kristine K. Gullo
                                             Title: Vice President