<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION FOR THE
NINE-MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS 
ENTIRETY BY 
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000003146
<NAME> ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                              OCT-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      286,894
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        342
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          88,155
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         7,926
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 383,317
<COMMON>                                            20
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       34,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            111,995
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 146,499
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           125,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               8,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 103,818
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  383,317
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      313,603
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            13,300
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     269,003
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     282,303
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         31,300
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 712
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  32,012
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,341
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,671
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   23,671
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,720
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,632
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          21,498
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Alabama Gas Corporation (Alagasco) is a subsidiary of Energen
 Corporation.  Earnings per share is not calculated for Alagasco as amount
 would not be meaningful.
</FN>