<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> 051
<NAME> FRANKLIN U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES - CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 7,108,665,120
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 7,017,856,766
<RECEIVABLES> 270,843,134
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,496
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,288,703,396
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 20,116,667
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 24,858,357
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 44,975,024
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 7,661,687,020
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,033,192,345
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,192,036,231
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 9,445,010
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (336,595,304)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (90,808,354)
<NET-ASSETS> 7,243,728,372
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 555,514,497
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (55,299,233)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 500,215,264
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (46,648,877)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 33,038,640
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 486,605,027
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (472,305,401)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 139,242,027
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (336,014,986)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 37,929,073
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,028,116,063)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,078,828
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (289,946,427)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (34,246,735)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (55,299,233)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 7,586,174,716
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 6.620
<PER-SHARE-NII> .430<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .010
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.430)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 6.630
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .700
<FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING.
</FN>
</TABLE>
