Gulf Power Company is seeking power supply proposals for a five-year contract from qualified respondents to meet requirements for electric generating capacity beginning June 1, 2009.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued on Jan. 20, 2006 for approximately 400 to 500 megawatts of electricity. Proposals must be submitted by March 21, 2006.

Interested parties can obtain necessary information and are required to pre-qualify by accessing the Web site of an independent monitor – Accion Group – at www.gulfim.com.

All communications must be conducted through the independent monitor. Therefore, potential respondents are prohibited from contacting Gulf Power directly.

Gulf Power is a subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity.

The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility, serving almost 400,000 customers in 71 towns and communities in Northwest Florida. Gulf Power`s rates are almost 10 percent below the national average, and are the lowest of the investor-owned utilities in Florida.