EXHIBIT 4.2-B

                                                               Draft 1/02/97
                                                     re:  Capital Securities




                               GULF POWER COMPANY

                                       TO

                           THE CHASE MANHATTTAN BANK,
                                    TRUSTEE.







                          FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                          DATED AS OF ________ __, 19__






                                   $---------


                    SERIES __ ____% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

                               DUE _____ __, ____













                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                           PAGE



ARTICLE 1.....................................................................1


SECTION 101. Establishment....................................................1


SECTION 102. Definitions......................................................2


SECTION 103. Payment of Principal and Interest................................3


SECTION 104. Deferral of Interest Payments....................................5


SECTION 105. Denominations....................................................6


SECTION 106. Global Securities................................................6


SECTION 107. Transfer.........................................................7


SECTION 108. Redemption.......................................................7


ARTICLE 2....................................................................10


SECTION 201. Recitals by Company.............................................10


SECTION 202. Ratification and Incorporation of Original
               Indenture.....................................................10


SECTION 203. Executed in Counterparts........................................10


SECTION 204. Listing of Notes................................................10


This Table of Contents  does not  constitute  part of the Indenture or have
any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions.

                  THIS FIRST  SUPPLEMENTAL  INDENTURE is made as of the ____ day
of ______,  19__, by and between GULF POWER COMPANY,  a Maine  corporation,  500
Bayfront  Parkway,  Pensacola,  Florida  32501  (the  "Company"),  and THE CHASE
MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation,  450 West 33rd Street, New York,
New York 10001 (the "Trustee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS,   the  Company   has   heretofore   entered   into  a
Subordinated  Note  Indenture,  dated as of  _______  __,  19__  (the  "Original
Indenture") with The Chase Manhattan Bank;

                  WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by this
reference and the Original Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental
Indenture, is herein called the "Indenture";

                  WHEREAS,  under the Original Indenture, a new series of Junior
Subordinated  Notes may at any time be  established by the Board of Directors of
the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Original  Indenture and the
terms of such series may be described by a  supplemental  indenture  executed by
the Company and the Trustee;

                  WHEREAS,  the Company  proposes  to create  under the
Indenture a new series of Junior Subordinated Notes;

                  WHEREAS,  additional Junior Subordinated Notes of other series
hereafter established,  except as may be limited in the Original Indenture as at
the time supplemented and modified,  may be issued from time to time pursuant to
the Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified; and

                  WHEREAS,  all conditions necessary to authorize the execution,
delivery and  recording of this First  Supplemental  Indenture  and to make it a
valid and binding obligation of the Company have been done or performed.

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,   in  consideration  of  the  agreements  and
obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration,  the
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,  the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

                       Series A Junior Subordinated Notes

     SECTION 101.  Establishment.  There is hereby  established  a new series of
Junior Subordinated Notes to be issued under the Indenture,  to be designated as
the Company's Series __ ____% Junior  Subordinated  Notes due ____ __, ____ (the
"Series __ Notes").

         There are to be  authenticated  and  delivered  $___________  principal
amount of Series __ Notes, and no further Series __ Notes shall be authenticated
and  delivered  except as provided by Sections 203, 303, 304, 907 or 1107 of the
Original  Indenture.  The Series __ Notes  shall be issued in  definitive  fully
registered form.

         The  Series  __  Notes  shall be in  substantially  the form set out in
Exhibit A hereto.  The  entire  principal  amount of the  Series __ Notes  shall
initially be evidenced by one certificate issued to the Property Trustee of Gulf
Power Capital Trust ___.

         The form of the Trustee's  Certificate of Authentication for the Series
__ Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

         Each Series ___ Note shall be dated the date of authentication  thereof
and shall bear interest from the date of original  issuance  thereof or from the
most  recent  Interest  Payment  Date to which  interest  has been  paid or duly
provided for.

     SECTION 102.  Definitions.  The following  defined terms used herein shall,
unless the  context  otherwise  requires,  have the  meanings  specified  below.
Capitalized  terms used herein for which no definition is provided  herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Original Indenture.

         "Deferred  Interest" means each installment of interest not paid during
any Extension Period,  and interest thereon.  Deferred  installments of interest
shall bear interest at the rate of _____% per annum from the applicable Interest
Payment Date to the date of payment, compounded semi-annually.

         "Extension  Period"  means any  period  during  which the  Company  has
elected to defer payments of interest,  which deferral may be for a period of up
to ten (10) consecutive semi-annual periods.

         "Interest  Payment  Dates"  means  __________________  __, and
- ---------------- --.

         "Investment  Company  Act  Event"  means  that the  Company  shall have
received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence
of a change in law or  regulation  or a  written  change  in  interpretation  or
application of law or regulation by any legislative  body,  court,  governmental
agency or regulatory  authority,  there is more than an insubstantial  risk that
the Securities  Trust is or will be considered an  "investment  company" that is
required to be registered under the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,
which change becomes effective on or after the Original Issue Date.

         "Original Issue Date" means __________ __, 19__.


         "Regular  Record Date" means,  with  respect to each  Interest  Payment
Date,  the close of business on the 15th  calendar day  preceding  such Interest
Payment Date.

         "Securities  Trust"  means Gulf Power  Capital  Trust ___, a  statutory
business  trust  formed  by  the  Company  under  Delaware  law to  issue  Trust
Securities, the proceeds of which will be used to purchase Series __ Notes.

         "Special  Event" means an Investment  Company Act Event or Tax
Event.

         "Stated Maturity" means ____ __, ____.

         "Tax Event"  means that the Company  shall have  received an Opinion of
Counsel  experienced  in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any
amendment to, or change  (including any announced  prospective  change) in, laws
(or  any  regulations   thereunder)  of  the  United  States  or  any  political
subdivision or taxing  authority  thereof or therein or (b) any amendment to, or
change in, an interpretation  or application of such laws or regulations,  there
is more  than an  insubstantial  risk  that (i) the  Securities  Trust  would be
subject to United States  federal  income tax with respect to income  accrued or
received on the Series __ Notes,  (ii) interest  payable to the Securities Trust
on the Series __ Notes would not be  deductible by the Company for United States
federal income tax purposes,  or (iii) the Securities  Trust would be subject to
more than a de  minimis  amount  of other  taxes,  duties or other  governmental
charges,  which change or amendment  becomes  effective on or after the Original
Issue Date.

     SECTION 103. Payment of Principal and Interest. The unpaid principal amount
of the Series __ Notes shall bear interest at the rate of _____% per annum until
paid or duly provided for.  Interest shall be paid  semi-annually  in arrears on
each  Interest  Payment Date to the Person in whose name the Series __ Notes are
registered on the Regular Record Date for such Interest  Payment Date,  provided
that  interest  payable at the Stated  Maturity of  principal or on a Redemption
Date as provided herein will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.
So long as an Extension  Period is not occurring,  any such interest that is not
so punctually  paid or duly provided for will  forthwith  cease to be payable to
the Holders on such Regular  Record Date and may either be paid to the Person or
Persons  in whose  name the  Series  __ Notes  are  registered  at the  close of
business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted  interest to
be fixed by the Trustee  ("Special Record Date"),  notice whereof shall be given
to  Holders  of the  Series __ Notes  not less than ten (10) days  prior to such
Special  Record  Date,  or be paid at any time in any other  lawful  manner  not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange,  if any, on which
the Series __ Notes shall be listed,  and upon such notice as may be required by
any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Original Indenture.

         Payments  of  interest  on the  Series __ Notes will  include  interest
accrued  to but  excluding  the  respective  Interest  Payment  Dates.  Interest
payments  for the Series __ Notes shall be  computed  and paid on the basis of a
360-day  year of  twelve  30-day  months.  In the  event  that any date on which
interest is payable on the Series __ Notes is not a Business Day, then a payment
of the  interest  payable on such date will be made on the next  succeeding  day
that is a  Business  Day,  except  that,  if such  Business  Day is in the  next
succeeding  calendar  year,  such  payment  shall  be  made  on the  immediately
preceding  Business  Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on the date the payment was originally payable.

         Payment of the principal and interest (including  Additional  Interest,
if any) due at the Stated Maturity or earlier  redemption of the Series __ Notes
shall be made  upon  surrender  of the  Series __ Notes at the  Corporate  Trust
Office of the Trustee,  in such coin or currency of the United States of America
as at the time of payment  is legal  tender  for  payment of public and  private
debts.  Payments of interest  (including  interest on any Interest Payment Date)
will be made,  subject to such surrender where applicable,  at the option of the
Company,  (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person  entitled  thereto as
such address  shall appear in the Security  Register or (ii) by wire transfer at
such place and to such account at a banking  institution in the United States as
may be  designated in writing to the Trustee at least sixteen (16) days prior to
the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.

         The Company shall pay, as  additional  interest on the Series __ Notes,
when due to the United  States or any other  taxing  authority,  the amounts set
forth in clause (i) of the definition of Additional Interest.

     SECTION 104.  Deferral of Interest  Payments.  The Company has the right at
any time and from  time to time to extend  the  interest  payment  period of the
Series __ Notes for up to ten (10)  consecutive  semi-annual  periods (each,  an
"Extension  Period"),  but not beyond the Stated Maturity.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing, the Company has no right to extend its obligation to pay such amounts
as are defined in clause (i) of the definition of Additional Interest.  Prior to
the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend the
interest payment period,  provided that such Extension Period, together with all
such previous and further extensions of that Extension Period,  shall not exceed
ten (10)  consecutive  semi-annual  periods.  Upon the  termination  of any such
Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any
Additional  Interest  then due, the Company may select a new  Extension  Period,
subject to the above limitations and requirements.

         Upon the termination of any Extension  Period,  which termination shall
be on an Interest  Payment Date, the Company shall pay all Deferred  Interest on
the next succeeding Interest Payment Date to the Person in whose name the Series
__ Notes are  registered on the Regular  Record Date for such  Interest  Payment
Date,  provided  that  Deferred  Interest  payable at Stated  Maturity or on any
Redemption Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.

         If the Company  shall have given  notice of its  election to select any
Extension  Period,  the  Company  shall not (i)  declare or pay any  dividend or
distribution on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with
respect  to, any of its  capital  stock,  or make any  guarantee  payments  with
respect to the  foregoing  and (ii) make any payment of  interest,  principal or
premium,  if  any,  on or  repay,  repurchase  or  redeem  any  debt  securities
(including  guarantees other than its guarantee of the Capital Securities issued
by the  Securities  Trust)  issued by the  Company  that rank pari passu with or
junior to the Series __ Notes.

         The Company shall give the Holder or Holders of the Series __ Notes and
the Trustee notice,  as provided in Sections 105 and 106,  respectively,  of the
Original  Indenture,  of its  selection or  extension of an Extension  Period at
least one  Business  Day prior to the  earlier of (i) the  Regular  Record  Date
relating  to the  Interest  Payment  Date on which  the  Extension  Period is to
commence or relating to the Interest  Payment Date on which an Extension  Period
that is being extended would otherwise  terminate,  or (ii) the date the Company
or Securities Trust is required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange or
other  applicable  self-regulatory  organization  of the record date or the date
such distributions are payable.  The Company shall cause the Securities Trust to
give notice of the Company's  selection of such  Extension  Period to Holders of
the Trust  Securities.  The month in which any notice is given  pursuant  to the
immediately  preceding sentence of this Section shall constitute the first month
of the first  semi-annual  period  of the ten (10)  semi-annual  periods,  which
comprise the Maximum Extension Period.

         At any time any of the foregoing notices are given to the Trustee,  the
Company shall give to the Paying Agent for the Series __ Notes such  information
as said  Paying  Agent  shall  reasonably  require in order to  fulfill  its tax
reporting obligations with respect to such Series __ Notes.

     SECTION  105.  Denominations.  The  Series  __ Notes  may be  issued in the
denominations of $___, or any integral multiple thereof.

     SECTION 106. Global  Securities.  If the Series __ Notes are distributed to
Holders of the Trust  Securities of the Securities  Trust in liquidation of such
Holders'  interests  therein,  the Series __ Notes will be issued in the form of
one or more Global  Securities  registered in the name of the Depositary  (which
shall be The Depositary Trust Company) or its nominee.  Except under the limited
circumstances  described  below,  Series  __  Notes  represented  by the  Global
Security  will not be  exchangeable  for, and will not otherwise be issuable as,
Series __ Notes in definitive  form. The Global  Securities  described above may
not be transferred except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by
a  nominee  of the  Depositary  to the  Depositary  or  another  nominee  of the
Depositary or to a successor Depositary or its nominee.

         Owners of  beneficial  interests in such a Global  Security will not be
considered  the  Holders  thereof for any purpose  under the  Indenture,  and no
Global Security  representing a Series A Note shall be exchangeable,  except for
another Global Security of like  denomination  and tenor to be registered in the
name of the  Depositary  or its  nominee  or to a  successor  Depositary  or its
nominee.  The rights of Holders of such Global  Security shall be exercised only
through the Depositary.

         A Global Security shall be exchangeable  for Series __ Notes registered
in the names of persons other than the Depositary or its nominee only if (i) the
Depositary  notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a
Depositary for such Global Security and no successor  Depositary shall have been
appointed,  or if at any time the  Depositary  ceases  to be a  clearing  agency
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at a time when
the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as such  Depositary and no
successor  Depositary  shall have been  appointed,  (ii) the Company in its sole
discretion  determines  that such Global Security shall be so  exchangeable,  or
(iii) there shall have  occurred an Event of Default  with respect to the Series
__ Notes.  Any Global  Security that is  exchangeable  pursuant to the preceding
sentence shall be exchangeable  for Series __ Notes  registered in such names as
the Depositary shall direct.

     SECTION 107.  Transfer.  No service charge will be made for any transfer or
exchange of Series __ Notes, but payment will be required of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other  governmental  charge  that may be imposed in  connection
therewith.

         The Company  shall not be required  (a) to issue,  transfer or exchange
any Series __ Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen
(15) days  before  the day of the  mailing  of a notice  identifying  the serial
numbers of the Series __ Notes to be called  for  redemption,  and ending at the
close of business on the day of the mailing,  or (b) to transfer or exchange any
Series __ Notes theretofore  selected for redemption in whole or in part, except
the unredeemed portion of any Series A Note redeemed in part.

     SECTION 108. Redemption. The Series __ Notes shall be subject to redemption
at the option of the Company,  in whole or in part,  at any time or from time to
time on or after  _________ __, ____ or at any time in whole upon the occurrence
of a Special Event; provided, however, that if a redemption in part shall result
in the delisting of the Capital  Securities  issued by the Securities Trust, the
Company may only redeem the Series __ Notes in whole.

         "Redemption  Price", in the case of a redemption,  in whole or in part,
at the option of the Company,  but not upon the  occurrence of a Special  Event,
shall equal the  following  prices  expressed in  percentages  of the  principal
amount  together  with  accrued  interest  to but  excluding  the date fixed for
redemption. If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning ____________, ____;

                                                              Redemption
         Year                                                     Price
         ----                                                     -----
                      .............................                    %
                      .............................                    %
                      .............................                    %
                      .............................                    %
                      .............................                    %
                      .............................                    %
                      .............................                    %
                      .............................                    %
                      .............................                    %
                      .............................                    %

and at 100% on or after _____________, ____.

         Upon the  occurrence of a Special  Event at any time,  the Company may,
within  ninety (90) days  following  the  occurrence  thereof and subject to the
terms and conditions of the Indenture,  elect to redeem the Series __ Notes,  in
whole.

         "Redemption  Price",  in the case of a  redemption  following a Special
Event,  means for each  Series ___ Note a price equal to the greater of (i) 100%
of the principal amount of the Series __ Notes being redeemed or (ii) the sum of
the present  values of the  remaining  scheduled  payments of  principal  of and
interest  on the  Series  ___ Notes  being  redeemed  discounted  to the date of
redemption on a semi-annual  basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day  months) at a  discount  rate  equal to the  Treasury  Yield plus 5 basis
points, plus, for (i) and (ii) above, whichever is applicable,  accrued interest
to the date of redemption).

         "Treasury  Yield" means,  with respect to any redemption date, the rate
per  annum  equal  to  the  semi-annual  equivalent  yield  to  maturity  of the
Comparable  Treasury Issue,  assuming a price for the Comparable  Treasury Issue
(expressed  as a percentage of its  principal  amount)  equal to the  Comparable
Treasury Price for such redemption date.

         "Comparable  Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury  security
selected by an Independent  Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to
the remaining term of Series ___ Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at
the time of selection and in accordance with customary  financial  practice,  in
pricing new issues to corporate  debt  securities of comparable  maturity to the
remaining term of the Series ___ Notes.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date,
(i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue
(expressed  in each case as a  percentage  of its  principal  amount)  the third
business day in New York City  preceding such  redemption  date, as set forth in
the daily  statistical  release  (or any  successor  release)  published  by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated  "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations
for US Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release)
is not  published  or does not contain  such prices on such  business  day,  the
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation for such redemption date.

         "Independent Investment Banker" means an independent investment banking
institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

         "Reference  Treasury  Dealer" means a primary US Government  securities
dealer in New York City  appointed by the Company and  reasonably  acceptable to
the Indenture Trustee.

         "Reference  Treasury  Dealer  Quotation"  means,  with  respect  to the
Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by
the Indenture Trustee,  of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable  Treasury
Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount and quoted
in writing to the Indenture  Trustee by such Reference  Treasury  Dealer at 5:00
p.m. on the third business day in New York City preceding such redemption date).

         In the event of  redemption  of the Series __ Notes in part only, a new
Series __ Note or Notes for the unredeemed portion will be issued in the name or
names of the Holders thereof upon the surrender thereof.

         The Series __ Notes will not have a sinking fund.

         Notice of  redemption  shall be given to the  Holders  as  provided  in
Section 1104 of the Original  Indenture.  The Company will notify the Trustee of
the applicable  Redemption  Price promptly after the  calculation  thereof.  Any
notice of such redemption under the Indenture need not set forth such Redemption
Price but only the manner of calculation thereof.

         Any  redemption  of less than all of the  Series __ Notes  shall,  with
respect to the principal thereof, be divisible by $___.


                                    ARTICLE 2

                            Miscellaneous Provisions

     SECTION 201. Recitals by Company.  The recitals in this First  Supplemental
Indenture  are made by the Company only and not by the  Trustee,  and all of the
provisions  contained  in the  Original  Indenture  in  respect  of the  rights,
privileges,  immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in
respect of Series __ Notes and of this First Supplemental Indenture as fully and
with like effect as if set forth herein in full.

     SECTION 202.  Ratification  and  Incorporation  of Original  Indenture.  As
supplemented  hereby,  the Original  Indenture  is in all respects  ratified and
confirmed,  and the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and modified,
and this First Supplemental  Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one
and the same instrument.

     SECTION 203. Executed in Counterparts.  This First  Supplemental  Indenture
may be simultaneously  executed in several counterparts,  each of which shall be
deemed to be an original,  and such counterparts  shall together  constitute but
one and the same instrument.

     SECTION 204. Listing of Notes. If the Series __ Notes are to be issued as a
Global  Security in connection  with the  distribution of the Series __ Notes to
the  Holders of the  Capital  Securities  issued by the  Securities  Trust,  the
Company  will use its best  efforts to list such Series __ Notes on the New York
Stock Exchange or any such other  exchange on which such Capital  Securities are
then listed and traded.

                  IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,   each  party  hereto  has  caused  this
instrument to be signed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized  officers,
all as of the day and year first above written.

ATTEST:                                              GULF POWER COMPANY


By:                                                  By:
   Assistant Secretary                                  Secretary and Treasurer




ATTEST:                                              THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


By:                                                  By:
   Senior Trust Officer                                 Senior Trust Officer



                                    EXHIBIT A

                             FORM OF SERIES __ NOTE



NO. 1                                                 CUSIP NO. __________



THE  INDEBTEDNESS  EVIDENCED BY THIS SECURITY IS, TO THE EXTENT  PROVIDED IN THE
INDENTURE,  SUBORDINATE  AND SUBJECT IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE PRIOR PAYMENT IN
FULL OF ALL  SENIOR  INDEBTEDNESS  AND THIS  SECURITY  IS ISSUED  SUBJECT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE WITH RESPECT THERETO.

                               GULF POWER COMPANY
                    SERIES __ ____% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE
                                DUE ____ __, ____


         Principal Amount:                  $_________

         Regular Record Date:               15th   calendar  day  prior
                                            to Interest Payment Date

         Original Issue Date:               ________ __, 19__

         Stated Maturity:                   ____ __, ____

         Interest Payment Dates:            _____________ __ and

                                            ------------- --

         Interest Rate:                     _____% per annum

         Authorized Denomination:           $___

         Initial Redemption Date:           ________ __, ___


         Gulf Power Company,  a Maine  corporation  (the  "Company",  which term
includes  any  successor  corporation  under the  Indenture  referred  to on the
reverse  hereof),  for  value  received,  hereby  promises  to pay to The  Chase
Manhattan  Bank as Property  Trustee of Gulf Power Capital Trust ___, a Delaware
business trust, or registered  assigns,  the principal sum of _________  DOLLARS
($__________)  on the Stated Maturity shown above (or upon earlier  redemption),
and to pay interest  thereon from the Original  Issue Date shown above,  or from
the most recent  Interest  Payment Date to which  interest has been paid or duly
provided  for,  semi-annually  in  arrears  on  each  Interest  Payment  Date as
specified  above,  commencing on the Interest  Payment Date next  succeeding the
Original  Issue Date shown  above and on the Stated  Maturity  (or upon  earlier
redemption) at the rate per annum shown above until the principal hereof is paid
or made  available  for payment and on any overdue  principal and on any overdue
installment of interest.  The interest so payable,  and punctually  paid or duly
provided for, on any Interest  Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date
that is the Stated  Maturity or on a Redemption  Date) will, as provided in such
Indenture,  be paid to the  Person  in whose  name this  Note  (the  "Note")  is
registered  at the close of  business on the  Regular  Record Date as  specified
above next  preceding  such Interest  Payment  Date,  provided that any interest
payable at Stated  Maturity or on any Redemption Date will be paid to the Person
to whom principal is payable. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any
such interest not so punctually  paid or duly provided for will forthwith  cease
to be payable to the Holder on such  Regular  Record Date and may either be paid
to the Person in whose name this Note is  registered at the close of business on
a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted  interest to be fixed by
the Trustee,  notice  whereof  shall be given to Holders of Notes of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special  Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any  other  lawful  manner  not  inconsistent  with the  requirements  of any
securities exchange,  if any, on which the Notes of this series shall be listed,
and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange,  all as more fully
provided in the Indenture.

         Payments of interest on this Note will include  interest accrued to but
excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for this Note
shall be  computed  and paid on the  basis of a 360-day  year of  twelve  30-day
months.  In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Note is
not a Business  Day,  then payment of the interest  payable on such date will be
made on the next  succeeding  day that is a Business  Day,  except that, if such
Business Day is in the next succeeding  calendar year,  payment shall be made on
the  immediately  preceding  Business  Day, in each case with the same force and
effect as if made on the date the payment was  originally  payable.  A "Business
Day"  shall  mean any day other  than a  Saturday  or a Sunday or a day on which
banking  institutions  in New York City are  authorized  or  required  by law or
executive order to remain closed or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee or the principal  corporate trust office of the Property  Trustee of
the Securities Trust are closed for business.

         The  Company  shall  have the  right at any time and from  time to time
during the term of this Note to extend the interest  payment period of such Note
for up to 10 consecutive  semi-annual periods but not beyond the Stated Maturity
of this Note (each, an "Extension Period"), during which periods unpaid interest
(together  with interest  thereon) will compound  semi-annually  at the Interest
Rate ("Deferred Interest"). Upon the termination of each Extension Period, which
shall be an Interest  Payment Date, the Company shall pay all Deferred  Interest
on the next  succeeding  Interest  Payment Date to the Person in whose name this
Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular  Record Date for such
Interest  Payment Date,  provided that any Deferred  Interest  payable at Stated
Maturity or on any Redemption  Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal
is payable.  Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period,  the Company
may extend the interest  payment  period,  provided that such  Extension  Period
together with all such previous and further  extensions thereof shall not exceed
10 consecutive  semi-annual periods.  Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period,  and the payment of all accrued and unpaid  interest and any  Additional
Interest then due, the Company may select a new Extension Period, subject to the
above  requirements.  If the Company  shall have given notice of its election to
select  any  Extension  Period,  the  Company  shall not (i)  declare or pay any
dividend or distribution on, or redeem, purchase,  acquire or make a liquidation
payment  with  respect  to,  any of its  capital  stock,  or make any  guarantee
payments  with respect to the  foregoing  and (ii) make any payment of interest,
principal  or  premium,  if any,  on or repay,  repurchase  or  redeem  any debt
securities  (including  guarantees  other  than  its  guarantee  of the  Capital
Securities  issued by the Securities Trust) issued by the Company that rank pari
passu with or junior to this  Note.  The  Company  shall give the Holder of this
Note and the Trustee notice of its selection or extension of an Extension Period
at least one  Business  Day prior to the earlier of (i) the Regular  Record Date
relating  to the  Interest  Payment  Date on which  the  Extension  Period is to
commence or relating to the Interest  Payment Date on which an Extension  Period
that is being extended would otherwise terminate or (ii) the date the Company or
Securities  Trust is required  to give notice to the New York Stock  Exchange or
other  applicable  self-regulatory  organization  of the record date or the date
distributions are payable.

         The  Company  also  shall be  obligated  to pay  when  due and  without
extension  all  additional  amounts  as may be  required  so that the net amount
received  and retained by the Holder of this Note (if the Holder is a Securities
Trust)  after paying  taxes,  duties,  assessments  or  governmental  charges of
whatever nature (other than  withholding  taxes) imposed by the United States or
any other taxing  authority  will not be less than the amounts such Holder would
have  received had no such taxes,  duties,  assessments,  or other  governmental
charges been imposed.

         Payment  of  the  principal  of  and  interest  (including   Additional
Interest, if any) due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of the Series
__ Notes shall be made upon  surrender  of the Series __ Notes at the  Corporate
Trust  Office of the Trustee,  in such coin or currency of the United  States of
America  as at the time of payment  is legal  tender  for  payment of public and
private debts.  Payment of interest  (including  interest on an Interest Payment
Date) will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, at the option of
the Company,  (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled  thereto
as such address  shall appear in the Security  Register or (ii) by wire transfer
at such place and to such account at a banking  institution in the United States
as may be  designated  in writing  to the  Trustee at least 16 days prior to the
date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.

         The  indebtedness  evidenced by this Note is, to the extent provided in
the Indenture,  subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment
in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture),  and this Note
is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.  Each
Holder of this Note, by accepting the same,  (a) agrees to and shall be bound by
such  provisions,  (b)  authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or appropriate  to effectuate the  subordination
so provided,  and (c) appoints the Trustee his  attorney-in-fact for any and all
such purposes.  Each Holder hereof, by his acceptance hereof,  waives all notice
of the acceptance of the  subordination  provisions  contained herein and in the
Indenture  by each holder of Senior  Indebtedness,  whether now  outstanding  or
hereafter  incurred,   and  waives  reliance  by  each  such  holder  upon  said
provisions.

         REFERENCE  IS HEREBY  MADE TO THE FURTHER  PROVISIONS  OF THIS NOTE SET
FORTH ON THE REVERSE  HEREOF,  WHICH FURTHER  PROVISIONS  SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES
HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

         Unless the  certificate of  authentication  hereon has been executed by
the Trustee by manual signature,  this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit
under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:  ________ __, 19__.

                                                     GULF POWER COMPANY



                                                     By:
                                                        Warren E. Tate
                                                        Secretary and Treasurer


Attest:



Assistant Secretary



                    {Seal of GULF POWER COMPANY appears here}










                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                                THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                   as Trustee


                                                By:
                                                   Authorized Officer





                             (Reverse Side of Note)


         This  Note is one of a duly  authorized  issue of  Junior  Subordinated
Notes of the Company  (the  "Notes"),  issued and issuable in one or more series
under  a  Subordinated  Note  Indenture,  dated  as of  ________  __,  19__,  as
supplemented  (the  "Indenture"),  between the  Company and The Chase  Manhattan
Bank,  Trustee (the "Trustee,"  which term includes any successor  trustee under
the  Indenture),  to  which  Indenture  and all  indentures  incidental  thereto
reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of
rights,  duties and  immunities  thereunder of the Company,  the Trustee and the
Holders of the Notes  issued  thereunder  and of the terms upon which said Notes
are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Note is one of the series
designated on the face hereof as Series __ ____% Junior  Subordinated  Notes due
____ __, ____ (the "Series __ Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of up to
$________.  Capitalized  terms used herein for which no  definition  is provided
herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.

         The Company shall have the right,  subject to the terms and  conditions
of the  Indenture,  to redeem this Note,  in whole or in part, at any time on or
after  _______  __, ____ at the option of the  Company,  or at any time in whole
upon the occurrence of a Special Event.

         "Redemption  Price", in the case of a redemption,  in whole or in part,
at the option of the Company,  but not upon the  occurrence of a Special  Event,
shall equal the  following  prices  expressed in  percentages  of the  principal
amount  together  with  accrued  interest  to but  excluding  the date fixed for
redemption.  If redeemed  during the 12-month  period  beginning  _____________,
____.

                                                                  Redemption
         Year                                                         Price
         ----                                                         -----
                      .................................                   %
                      .................................                   %
                      .................................                   %
                      .................................                   %
                      .................................                   %
                      .................................                   %
                      .................................                   %
                      .................................                   %
                      .................................                   %
                      .................................                   %

and at 100% on or after _____________, ____.

         Upon the  occurrence of a Special Event (as defined below) at any time,
the Company may, within 90 days following the occurrence  thereof and subject to
the terms and conditions of the Indenture, redeem this Note, in whole.

         "Redemption  Price",  in the case of a  redemption  following a Special
Event,  means for each  Series ___ Note a price equal to the greater of (i) 100%
of the principal amount of the Series __ Notes being redeemed or (ii) the sum of
the present  values of the  remaining  scheduled  payments of  principal  of and
interest  on the  Series  ___ Notes  being  redeemed  discounted  to the date of
redemption on a semi-annual  basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day  months) at a  discount  rate  equal to the  Treasury  Yield plus 5 basis
points, plus, for (i) and (ii) above, whichever is applicable,  accrued interest
to the date of redemption).

         "Treasury  Yield" means,  with respect to any redemption date, the rate
per  annum  equal  to  the  semi-annual  equivalent  yield  to  maturity  of the
Comparable  Treasury Issue,  assuming a price for the Comparable  Treasury Issue
(expressed  as a percentage of its  principal  amount)  equal to the  Comparable
Treasury Price for such redemption date.

         "Comparable  Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury  security
selected by an Independent  Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to
the remaining term of Series ___ Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at
the time of selection and in accordance with customary  financial  practice,  in
pricing new issues to corporate  debt  securities of comparable  maturity to the
remaining term of the Series ___ Notes.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date,
(i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage  of its  principal  amount) on the third
business day in New York City  preceding such  redemption  date, as set forth in
the daily  statistical  release  (or any  successor  release)  published  by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated  "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations
for US Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release)
is not  published  or does not contain  such prices on such  business  day,  the
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation for such redemption date.

         "Independent Investment Banker" means an independent investment banking
institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

         "Reference  Treasury  Dealer" means a primary US Government  securities
dealer in New York City  appointed by the Company and  reasonably  acceptable to
the Indenture Trustee.

         "Reference  Treasury  Dealer  Quotation"  means,  with  respect  to the
Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by
the Indenture Trustee,  of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable  Treasury
Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount and quoted
in writing to the Indenture  Trustee by such Reference  Treasury  Dealer at 5:00
p.m. on the third business day in New York City preceding such redemption date).

         A Special Event may be a Tax Event or an Investment  Company Act Event.
"Tax  Event"  means that the Company  shall have  received an Opinion of Counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment
to, or change  (including  any  announced  prospective  change) in, laws (or any
regulations  thereunder)  of the United States or any political  subdivision  or
taxing  authority  thereof or therein or (b) any  amendment to, or change in, an
interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, there is more than an
insubstantial  risk that (i) the  related  Securities  Trust would be subject to
United States  federal  income tax with respect to income accrued or received on
the Series __ Notes, (ii) interest payable to the related Securities Trust would
not be deductible by the Company for United States  federal income tax purposes,
or (iii) the related Securities Trust would be subject to more than a de minimis
amount of other taxes,  duties or other  governmental  charges,  which change or
amendment  becomes  effective on or after the Original  Issue Date.  "Investment
Company  Act Event"  means that the  Company  shall have  received an Opinion of
Counsel to the effect that, as a result of the  occurrence of a change in law or
regulation  or a  written  change in  interpretation  or  application  of law or
regulation by any legislative  body,  court,  governmental  agency or regulatory
authority,  there is more than an insubstantial risk that the related Securities
Trust is or will be considered an  "investment  company" which is required to be
registered  under the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  which change
becomes effective on or after the Original Issue Date.

         The Company will notify the Trustee of the applicable  Redemption Price
promptly after the calculation  thereof. Any notice of such redemption under the
Indenture  need not set  forth  such  Redemption  Price  but only the  manner of
calculation thereof.

         In the event of  redemption  of this Note in part  only,  a new Note or
Notes of this  series for the  unredeemed  portion  hereof will be issued in the
name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender  hereof.  The Notes will not have a
sinking fund.

         If an Event of Default  with  respect to the Notes of this series shall
occur  and be  continuing,  the  principal  of the Notes of this  series  may be
declared  due and  payable in the  manner,  with the  effect and  subject to the
conditions provided in the Indenture.

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment  thereof and the  modification  of the rights and  obligations  of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes of each series to be affected
under the  Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent
of the Holders of not less than a majority in  principal  amount of the Notes at
the time Outstanding of each series to be affected.  The Indenture also contains
provisions  permitting the Holders of specified  percentages in principal amount
of the Notes of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of
all Notes of such  series,  to waive  compliance  by the  Company  with  certain
provisions of the  Indenture  and certain past defaults  under the Indenture and
their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall
be conclusive  and binding upon such Holder and upon all future  Holders of this
Note and of any Note  issued  upon the  registration  of  transfer  hereof or in
exchange  hereof or in lieu  hereof,  whether or not notation of such consent or
waiver is made upon this Note.

         No reference  herein to the  Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture  shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company,  which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at
the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth,  the transfer of this Note is registrable  in the Security  Register,
upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency
of the Company for such purpose,  duly endorsed by, or  accompanied by a written
instrument  of transfer  in form  satisfactory  to the Company and the  Security
Registrar  and  duly  executed  by,  the  Holder  hereof  or his  attorney  duly
authorized in writing,  and  thereupon one or more new Notes of this series,  of
authorized  denominations and of like tenor and for the same aggregate principal
amount, will be issued to the designated  transferee or transferees.  No service
charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange,  but the
Company  may  require  payment  of a sum  sufficient  to cover  any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

         Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the
Company,  the  Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the
Person in whose  name  this  Note is  registered  as the  owner  hereof  for all
purposes,  whether or not this Note be overdue,  and neither  the  Company,  the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

         The Notes of this series are issuable only in  registered  form without
coupons in denominations of $___ and any integral multiple thereof.  As provided
in the Indenture and subject to certain  limitations therein set forth, Notes of
this series are exchangeable  for a like aggregate  principal amount of Notes of
this series of a different authorized  denomination,  as requested by the Holder
surrendering the same upon surrender of the Note or Notes to be exchanged at the
office or agency of the Company.

         This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance  with,  the
internal laws of the State of New York.





                                  ABBREVIATIONS

The following  abbreviations,  when used in the  inscription on the face of this
instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according
to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM- as tenants in              UNIF GIFT MIN ACT- ------- Custodian------- 
        common                                         (Cust)           (Minor)
TEN ENT- as tenants by the
         entireties
                                                       under Uniform Gifts to
JT TEN- as joint tenants                                     Minors Act
        with right of
        survivorship and                               ------------------------
        not as tenants                                         (State)
        in common


                    Additional abbreviations may also be used
                          though not on the above list.
                          -----------------------------

     FOR VALUE  RECEIVED,  the undersigned  hereby sell(s) and transfer(s)  unto
- --------------------------------- (please  insert  Social  Security  or  other
identifying number of assignee)

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS,  INCLUDING  POSTAL ZIP CODE
OF ASSIGNEE

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the  within  Note  and  all  rights   thereunder,   hereby  irrevocably
constituting and appointing

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
agent to  transfer  said Note on the books of the  Company,  with full  power of
substitution in the premises.


Dated:------------------------             -------------------------------
                                           -------------------------------

                                            NOTICE:  The  signature  to
                                            this     assignment    must
                                            correspond  with  the  name
                                            as  written  upon  the face
                                            of  the  within  instrument
                                            in     every     particular
                                            without    alteration    or
                                            enlargement,     or     any
                                            change whatever.



                                    EXHIBIT B



                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION


         This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                                      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                         as Trustee


                                                      By:
                                                         Authorized Officer