<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for September 30, 1998, 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-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                                SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                     1,046,790
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                         636
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          146,111
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                         71,828
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                1,265,365
<COMMON>                                                                         38,060
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                       218,450
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                             176,215
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                  432,725
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                            85,000
<PREFERRED>                                                                       4,236
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                            247,263
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                               10,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        97,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                         0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                           789
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                           0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                      0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                  387,852
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                 1,265,365
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                       517,457
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                             29,407
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      415,001
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      444,408
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                          73,049
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                   38
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                   73,087
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         25,302
<NET-INCOME>                                                                     47,785
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         579
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                    47,206
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         52,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                          106,543
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0
        



</TABLE>