<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from the Form 10-Q for June 30, 2000, and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000092122
<NAME> THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> Jun-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 24,890,913
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 7,964,396
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 4,135,121
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 2,531,060
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 39,521,490
<COMMON> 3,503,112
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 1,146,940
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 4,270,781
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 8,920,833
2,321,945
368,126
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 3,935,654
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 2,428,789
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 8,384,256
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 2,300,606
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 385,051
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 92,845
<LEASES-CURRENT> 2,763
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 10,380,622
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 39,521,490
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 5,768,236
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 210,154
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 4,429,815
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 4,429,815
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 1,338,421
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 179,296
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 1,307,563
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 710,757
<NET-INCOME> 596,806
9,458
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 587,348
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 437,846
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 1,144,612
<EPS-BASIC> 0.90
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.90
</TABLE>