<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION FOR
THE NINEMONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30, 1998, 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-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      314,090
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        346
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          87,228
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         4,249
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 405,913
<COMMON>                                            20
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       34,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            125,160
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 159,664
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           125,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               2,000
<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>                 119,249
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  405,913
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      323,829
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,518
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     276,489
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     291,007
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         32,822
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 582
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  33,404
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,862
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,542
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   25,542
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,632
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          55,729
<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>