WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

EXHIBIT 27(a) Financial Data Schedule


<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for June 30, 1999, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000092122
<NAME> THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    Dec-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                         Jun-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                             24,893,116
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                            6,590,890
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 3,631,560
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                               2,454,198
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        37,569,764
<COMMON>                                                               3,503,085
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              2,172,555
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                    3,848,907
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                         9,524,547
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  2,425,120
<PREFERRED>                                                              369,008
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                   3,968,529
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                     1,159,266
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                              6,168,346
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                         2,841,967
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                          1,139,364
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                              127,136
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           5,241
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                         9,841,240
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         37,569,764
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                              5,232,645
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                     268,503
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             4,080,364
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             4,348,867
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                  883,778
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       241,363
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                         1,125,141
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                 576,619
<NET-INCOME>                                                             548,522
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               10,221
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                            538,301
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                 467,324
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                      0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                   827,970
<EPS-BASIC>                                                               0.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.77