<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for September 30, 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>                                                                         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                     SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                     1,049,766
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                         623
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          157,926
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                         68,487
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                1,276,802
<COMMON>                                                                         38,060
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                       218,482
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                             187,325
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                  443,867
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                            40,000 
<PREFERRED>                                                                      50,102 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                            249,911 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        47,000 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                    55,817 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                             0 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                           0 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                      0 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                  390,105 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                 1,276,802 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                       480,376 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                             29,561 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      376,700 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      406,261 
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                          74,115
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                1,381
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                   75,496
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         23,466
<NET-INCOME>                                                                     52,030
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                       3,420
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                    48,610
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         50,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                          139,270
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0
        



</TABLE>