<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for March 31, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000086940
<NAME> SAVANNAH ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                     MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                       447,808
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                       1,785
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                           43,342
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                         38,138
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                  531,073
<COMMON>                                                                         54,223
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                         8,688
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                             106,818
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                  169,729
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                 0 
<PREFERRED>                                                                      35,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                            125,392 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                4,200
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        30,000 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                         0 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                             0 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                       5,923 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                    980 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                  159,849 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                   531,073 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                        42,945 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                              2,075 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                       34,753 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                       36,828 
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                           6,117
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                   33
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                    6,150
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                          3,024
<NET-INCOME>                                                                      3,126
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         581
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                     2,545
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                          5,100
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                           10,498
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0