<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM 10K
FOR SEPTEMBER 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000003146
<NAME> ALABAMA GAS 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>                        394
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          90,012
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         7,467
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 374,406
<COMMON>                                            20
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       34,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             95,044
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 129,548
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           125,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<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>                 119,858
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  374,406
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      357,252
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,047
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     321,982
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     331,029
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         26,223
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 323
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  26,546
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,585
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,961
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   16,961
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         9,555
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        7,390
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          34,333
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>EARNINGS PER SHARE IS CALCULATED FOR ENERGEN CORPORATION (PARENT COMPANY OF
ALAGASCO) AND IS NOT CALCULATED FOR ALAGASCO SEPARATELY AS AMOUNT WOULD NOT BE
MEANINGFUL.
</FN>