<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for September 30, 1998, 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>                                                                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                           DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                                SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                       439,985
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                       1,420
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                           70,006
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                         47,976
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                  559,387
<COMMON>                                                                         54,223
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                         8,688
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                             118,070
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                  180,981
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                                           0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                             97,956
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                1,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        60,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                         0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                        35,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                       5,433
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                    699
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                  178,318
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                   559,387
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                       202,221
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                             16,447
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      151,898
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      168,345
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                          33,876
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                 (506)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                   33,370
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                          8,876
<NET-INCOME>                                                                     24,494
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                       1,743
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                    22,751
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         17,400
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                           34,746
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0