<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.

<CIK>            0000003146
<NAME>           ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>     1,000

                             
<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
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               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
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                 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
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>               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.