EX-99 3 cngulfseriesfxd.txt EXHIBIT D Exhibit D Beggs & Lane Post Office Box 12950 Pensacola, Florida 32576-2950 850-432-2451 April 1, 2003 Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, DC 20549 RE: Statement on Form U-1 of Gulf Power Company (herein called the "Company") et al. File No. 70-9171 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have read the statement on Form U-1, as amended, referred to above and are furnishing this opinion with respect to the issuance and sale by the Company of $65,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Series F 5.60% Senior Insured Quarterly Notes due April 1, 2033 (the "Series F Notes"). We are of the opinion that: (a) the Company is validly organized and duly existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Maine and is duly admitted to do business as a foreign corporation in the States of Florida, Georgia and Mississippi; (b) the subject transactions have been consummated in accordance with such statement on Form U-1, as amended; (c) all state laws applicable to the transactions have been complied with; (d) the Series F Notes are valid and binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms; and (e) the consummation of the transactions did not violate the legal rights of the holders of any securities issued by the Company or any associate company thereof. Securities and Exchange Commission April 1, 2003 Page 2 We hereby give our written consent to the use of this opinion in connection with the above-mentioned statement on Form U-1, as amended, and to the filing thereof with the Commission at the time of the filing by the Company of its certificate pursuant to Rule 24. Very truly yours, Beggs & Lane