THIRD BANK LOAN CERTIFICATE OF NOTIFICATION

                             (Fourth Quarter - 1997)

                                    Filed by

                               GULF POWER COMPANY

Pursuant to order of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  dated  
December 13, 1996 in the matter of File No. 70-8947.


Gulf Power Company (GULF) hereby certifies to said Commission, pursuant to Rule
24, that, in accordance with the terms and conditions of and for the purposes
represented by the statement on Form U-1 in the above matter during the fourth
quarter of 1997, GULF had:-

Short-term and/or term loan notes outstanding - $82,326,573;

Commercial paper to dealers outstanding - $0; and

Non-negotiable promissory notes to public entities in exchange for the proceeds
of their revenue anticipation notes - $0.



                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act
of 1935, the undersigned company has duly caused this certificate to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.




Dated: January  30, 1998           GULF POWER COMPANY

                                   By:  /s/  Wayne Boston
                                          Wayne Boston, Assistant Secretary