SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C.  20549



                                   FORM 8-K
                                CURRENT REPORT


                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                       Securities Exchange Act of 1934



              Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                               JANUARY 15, 2002



                              TECO ENERGY, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



       FLORIDA                     1-8180                       59-2052286
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File              (IRS Employer
   of incorporation)                Number)                 Identification No.)



                   702 NORTH FRANKLIN STREET, TAMPA FLORIDA
            (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)


                                (813) 228-4111
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




Item 5. Other

        In order to furnish certain exhibits for incorporation by reference
into the Registration Statement on Form S- 3 of TECO Energy, Inc. previously
filed with Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 333-61758), which
Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission on June 8,
2001, TECO Energy, Inc. is filing (i) the opinion of Palmer & Dodge LLP
regarding the validity of the purchase contracts, the common stock, the
subordinated notes and the guarantee as Exhibit 5.8 to such Registration
Statement; (ii) the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. regarding the
validity of the trust preferred securities and company preferred securities
under Delaware law as Exhibit 5.9 to such Registration Statement; (iii) the
opinion of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP as Exhibit 5.10 to such
Registration Statement; and (iv) the opinion of Palmer & Dodge LLP regarding
certain tax matters as Exhibit 8.1 to such Registration Statement.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

        (c)     Exhibits.

                5.8     Opinion of Palmer & Dodge LLP regarding the
                        validity of the common stock, the notes, the guarantee
                        and the purchase contracts. Filed herewith.

                5.9     Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. regarding
                        the validity of the trust preferred securities and
                        company preferred securities under Delaware law.
                        Filed herewith.


                5.10    Opinion of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP.  Filed
                        herewith.

                8.1     Opinion of Palmer & Dodge LLP regarding certain tax
                        matters.  Filed herewith.

                23.5    Consent of Palmer & Dodge LLP (included as part of
                        their opinion filed herewith).

                23.6    Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included
                        as part of their opinion filed herewith).

                23.7    Consent of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP (included
                        as part of their opinion filed herewith).



                                  SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Date:  January 15, 2002             TECO ENERGY, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Gordon L. Gillette
                                        ---------------------------------
                                        G. L. Gillette
                                        Senior Vice President-Finance and Chief
                                        Financial Officer (Principal Financial
                                        Officer)



                                EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.     DESCRIPTION
-----------     -----------
5.8             Opinion of Palmer & Dodge LLP regarding the validity of the
                common stock, the notes, the guarantee and the purchase
                contracts. Filed herewith.
5.9             Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. regarding the
                validity of the trust preferred securities and company
                preferred securities under Delaware law.  Filed herewith.
5.10            Opinion of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP.  Filed herewith.
8.1             Opinion of Palmer & Dodge LLP regarding certain tax matters.
                Filed herewith.
23.5            Consent of Palmer & Dodge LLP (included as part of their
                opinion filed herewith).
23.6            Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included as part
                of their opinion filed herewith).
23.7            Consent of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP (included as
                part of their opinion filed herewith).