<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FRANKLIN
CUSTODIAN FUNDS, INC. SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 043
<NAME> FRANKLIN INCOME SERIES - CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 6,574,077,759
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6,765,508,428
<RECEIVABLES> 398,324,545
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,163,832,973
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 21,709,192
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 25,644,669
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 47,353,861
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 6,833,607,029
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 370,400,133
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 444,804,961
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 24,858,900
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 66,629,221
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 191,383,960
<NET-ASSETS> 7,116,479,110
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 201,554,559
<INTEREST-INCOME> 419,795,279
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (59,062,720)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 562,287,118
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 94,456,882
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 276,786,298
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 933,530,298
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (67,802,844)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (6,094,361)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 63,630,861
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (158,669,112)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 20,633,423
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (764,685,259)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 43,630,103
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 20,135,302
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (32,030,795)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (59,062,720)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 7,100,133,821
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 2.240
<PER-SHARE-NII> .170
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .130
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.170)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.010)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 2.360
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.260
<FN>
</FN>
</TABLE>
