<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for March 31, 1997, 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-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                     MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                     1,059,862
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                         628
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          155,927
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                         74,751
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                1,291,168
<COMMON>                                                                         38,060
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                       218,482
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                             177,056
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                  433,598
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                            40,000 
<PREFERRED>                                                                      65,102 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                            295,450 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                               17,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        29,572 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                    41,271 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                             0 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                           0 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                      0 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                  368,675 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                 1,291,168 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                       141,374 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                              6,860 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      114,302 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      121,162 
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                          20,212
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                   (1)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                   20,211
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                          7,876
<NET-INCOME>                                                                     12,335
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                       1,595
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                    10,740
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         22,900
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                           39,069
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0
        



</TABLE>