<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the Form
10-Q for March 31,  2000,  and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000044545
<NAME> GULF POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   Dec-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                        Mar-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                           PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                             1,068,249
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                               4,468
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                  135,546
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                 77,301
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        1,285,564
<COMMON>                                                                 38,060
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                               221,266
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                     153,040
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                          412,366
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    85,000
<PREFERRED>                                                               4,236
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                    247,609
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                       52,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                               119,906
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                 0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                     0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                   0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                          363,947
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         1,285,564
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                               138,498
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                      2,616
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                              122,491
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                              122,491
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                  16,007
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                          (66)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                           13,325
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  8,618
<NET-INCOME>                                                              4,707
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                  54
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                             4,653
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                 14,600
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                     0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                   30,602
<EPS-BASIC>                                                                   0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                 0



</TABLE>