TWELFTH BANK LOAN CERTIFICATE OF NOTIFICATION
                             (Fourth Quarter - 1998)

                                    Filed by

                              THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

Pursuant to order of the Securities and Exchange Commission dated March 13, 1996
in the matter of File No. 70-8789.

The Southern Company (SOUTHERN) hereby certifies to said Commission, pursuant to
Rule 24, that, in accordance with the terms and conditions of and for the
purposes represented by the statement on Form U-1 in the above matter at the end
of the fourth quarter of 1998, SOUTHERN had:-

Short-term or term loan notes outstanding - $25,000,000;

Commercial paper to dealers outstanding - $713,254,000 and

Non-negotiable promissory notes to public entities in exchange for the proceeds
of their revenue anticipation notes - $0.



                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act
of 1935, the undersigned company has duly caused this certificate to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


Dated: February 12, 1999            THE SOUTHERN COMPANY


                                    By:  /s/ Tommy Chisholm       
                                              Tommy Chisholm
                                        Secretary and Assistant Treasurer