<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from the Form 10-Q for September 30, 1995, and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000092122
<NAME> SOUTHERN CO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   22,748,116
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,721,367
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       3,103,155
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,745,894
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              30,318,532
<COMMON>                                     3,328,872
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,849,498
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          3,524,396
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               8,702,766
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          100,000
<PREFERRED>                                  1,332,203
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         8,447,158
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             947,135
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      325,310
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 452,387
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                (433,226)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    147,245
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               (2,597)
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>              10,300,151
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               30,318,532
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    6,871,461
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           668,556
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   4,691,073
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,359,629
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      1,511,832
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (3,978)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,507,854
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       498,683
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,009,171
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     66,491
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  942,680
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       607,988
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       1,870,264
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0