<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM
10-Q FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 1994, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000092122
<NAME> THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1993
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   20,174,795
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    779,772
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       2,520,481
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,794,693
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              26,269,741
<COMMON>                                     3,264,599
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,657,776
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          3,207,850
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               8,130,225
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,000
<PREFERRED>                                  1,332,203
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         6,961,201
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             335,070
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      490,955
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 239,136
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                 (453,134)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       (1,000)
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    244,030
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               (97,276)
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               8,535,921
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               26,269,741
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    6,382,250
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           589,201
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   4,416,190
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,005,391
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      1,376,859
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,309
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,381,168
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       502,318
<NET-INCOME>                                   878,850
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     65,096
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  813,754
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       573,999
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       1,712,292
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0