<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION FOR THE NINE-MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, 2000, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000003146
<NAME> ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 336,170
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 250
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 131,761
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 4,775
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 472,956
<COMMON> 20
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 34,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 175,291
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 209,795
0
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 115,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 4,650
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 143,511
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 472,956
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 313,085
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 17,741
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 257,236
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 274,977
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 38,108
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1,046
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 39,154
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,363
<NET-INCOME> 31,791
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 31,791
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 6,406
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 35,068
<EPS-BASIC> 0.
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.
</TABLE>
