<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION FOR THE
THREE-MONTHS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      297,949
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        343
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         126,510
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         5,103
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 429,905
<COMMON>                                            20
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       34,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            109,077
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 143,581
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           125,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              25,000
<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>                 136,324
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  429,905
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       95,755
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,104
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      89,853
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      90,957
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          4,798
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 164
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   4,962
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,779
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,183
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    2,183
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        2,210
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         (4,802)
<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>