-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OUu+/zsT25TKrCWDVXn7L/VzPOhqi3Qrvuf4ma5Ppl8etv5PuHIQMEVCYo6gsPlk
 op5lsAHNybEmsS3hEpNi9g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000092122-03-000106.txt : 20030522
<SEC-HEADER>0000092122-03-000106.hdr.sgml : 20030522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030522142721
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000092122-03-000106
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030522

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAIRSTON WILLIAM G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195314

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03526
		FILM NUMBER:		03716079

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		270 PEACHTREE ST NW BIN 910
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303

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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>hai30.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-05-22</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000092122</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHERN CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SO</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195314</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAIRSTON WILLIAM G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Pres Southern Nuclear Op Co</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-22</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>27425</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>22.4300</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>27425.00</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-22</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>27425</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>29.6100</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>0.00</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<derivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Option Right to Buy</value>
			<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			<footnoteId id="F3"/>
		</securityTitle>
		<conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<value>22.43</value>
		</conversionOrExercisePrice>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-22</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>27425</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>0</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<exerciseDate>
			<value>2002-04-16</value>
		</exerciseDate>
		<expirationDate>
			<value>2011-04-16</value>
		</expirationDate>
		<underlyingSecurity>
			<underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<value>Southern Company Common Stock</value>
			</underlyingSecurityTitle>
			<underlyingSecurityShares>
				<value>27425.00</value>
			</underlyingSecurityShares>
		</underlyingSecurity>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>13712.00</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</derivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Column 5 on Table I does not include 3,782.77 shares of common stock held indirectly in the 401(k) and ESOP.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Includes the right to have shares withheld upon exercise to satisfy tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">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>2003-05-22</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----