<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements filed as Exhibit 99 and is qualified in its entirity by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000044545
<NAME> GULF POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                          12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                           DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                1,055,507
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    622
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                     137,964
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    71,519
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,265,612
<COMMON>                                    38,060
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  218,450
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                        172,208
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             428,718
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       40,000
<PREFERRED>                                 13,691
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       294,993
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          47,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                   47,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>               53,327
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             385,883
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            1,265,612
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  625,856
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        35,034
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 501,639
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 536,673
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     89,183
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           1,795
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              90,978
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    29,751
<NET-INCOME>                                61,227
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  3,617
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               57,610
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    64,600
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   20,771
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                     165,547
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0