<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for September 30, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000041091
<NAME> GEORGIA POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                     SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                    10,131,508
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                     304,083
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        1,275,349
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                      1,181,550
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                               12,892,490
<COMMON>                                                                        344,250
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                     2,135,342
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                           1,783,246
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                4,262,838
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                           689,250 
<PREFERRED>                                                                     292,786 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                          3,016,103 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                             0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                   150,000 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                        28,913 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                      86,378 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                    388 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                4,365,834 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                12,892,490 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                     3,380,690  
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                            361,037  
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                    2,317,343  
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                    2,678,380  
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                         702,310
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                               12,423
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                  714,733
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        201,234
<NET-INCOME>                                                                    513,499
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                      19,510
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                   493,989
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                        385,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                        1,204,090
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0