-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L1Ey4PUfB4Hl8Wl3zGaqAz4kNng4thT7fyBQC2mebk65XxodiviOSuLxhMzOyCxj
 +GDg68KgqR3gAw71t7lVTQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000092122-05-000407.txt : 20051220
<SEC-HEADER>0000092122-05-000407.hdr.sgml : 20051220
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051220132340
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000092122-05-000407
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051220
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051220

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			James Anthony R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001298621

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03526
		FILM NUMBER:		051274910

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		912 644 7171

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 E BAY STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 968
		CITY:			SAVANNAH
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHERN CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000092122
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				580690070
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		270 PEACHTREE ST
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4045065000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		270 PEACHTREE STREET
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>jam598.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-12</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000092122</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHERN CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001298621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>James Anthony R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30308</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>72.89</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12939.11</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>556.6</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ESOP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option Right to Buy</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>33490.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option Right to Buy</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.98</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>32015.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-13</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>31435.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>31709.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes the right to have shares withheld upon exercise to satisfy tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options Vest 33% per year on the anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Patricia L. Roberts, Attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poajames.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned, an executive officer of The Southern
Company, hereby makes, constitutes, and appoints
Patricia L. Roberts my agent and attorney-in-fact,
in the limited purpose of signing on my behalf, and
causing to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership
of Securities, Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership,
and Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership,
on Forms 3, 4, and 5, respectively, and any appropriate
amendment or amendments thereto.

This power of attorney shall remain in effect until my
obligation to file the aforementioned reports as a director
of The Southern Company ceases, unless earlier revoked by me
by written document delivered to the Assistant Secretary of
The Southern Company.

	Signed this 19th day of December, 2005




							/s/ Anthony R. James
								Anthony R. James
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
