<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM 10K FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000277595 <NAME> ENERGEN CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 276,533 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 168,383 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 115,295 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 10,760 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 570,971 <COMMON> 112 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 89,635 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 98,658 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 188,405 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 195,545 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 59,000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 1,805 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 126,216 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 570,971 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 399,442 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 5,048 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 360,645 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 365,693 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 33,749 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1,712 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 35,461 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,920 <NET-INCOME> 21,541 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 21,541 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 12,903 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 9,890 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 52,457 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.95 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.95