<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,940,625
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    101,286
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         356,189
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        72,787
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 339,103
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,809,990
<COMMON>                                        41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      572,873
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            246,584
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 860,483
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           924,545
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  45,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     33,031
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 7,239
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 914,192
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,809,990
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,229,994
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            85,715
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     921,489
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,007,204
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        222,790
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,709
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 225,499
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        75,229
<NET-INCOME>                                   150,270
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,131
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  148,139
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        87,996
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       43,207
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         243,633
<EPS-BASIC>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>