<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for March 31, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000044545
<NAME> GULF POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                                     MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                     1,051,002
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                         621
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          121,178
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                         71,716
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                1,244,517
<COMMON>                                                                         38,060
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                       218,450
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                             164,062
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                  420,572
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                            85,000
<PREFERRED>                                                                      13,686
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                            248,670
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                               26,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        47,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                    47,572
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                             5
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                           0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                      0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                  355,512
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                 1,244,517
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                       140,950
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                              4,150
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      121,563
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      125,713
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                          15,237
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                 (723)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                   14,514
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                          7,452
<NET-INCOME>                                                                      7,062
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         209
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                     6,853
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         24,100
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                           18,476
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0