EXHIBIT 12
                            OHIO POWER COMPANY
      Computation of Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                     (in thousands except ratio data)

                                                                                                            Twelve
                                                                                                            Months
                                                                   Year Ended December 31,                  Ended
                                                        1995       1996       1997       1998       1999    3/31/00
                                                                                          
Fixed Charges:
  Interest on First Mortgage Bonds. . . . . . . .    $ 61,836   $ 52,147   $ 45,540   $ 33,663   $ 25,506   $ 23,837
  Interest on Other Long-term Debt. . . . . . . .      23,193     27,045     29,620     38,520     49,125     51,844
  Interest on Short-term Debt . . . . . . . . . .       2,658      4,006      4,519      5,821      8,327      9,390
  Miscellaneous Interest Charges. . . . . . . . .       7,126      3,705      4,464      4,617      5,016      4,568
  Estimated Interest Element in Lease Rentals . .      50,700     53,200     52,900     59,300     53,400     53,400
       Total Fixed Charges. . . . . . . . . . . .    $145,513   $140,103   $137,043   $141,921   $141,374   $143,039

Earnings:
  Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    $189,447   $217,655   $208,689   $209,925   $212,157   $197,552
  Plus Federal Income Taxes . . . . . . . . . . .      93,699    117,243    121,559    112,087    130,814    129,690
  Plus State Income Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . .       1,618      2,252      2,655      2,742      1,677      1,611
  Plus Fixed Charges (as above) . . . . . . . . .     145,513    140,103    137,043    141,921    141,374    143,039
       Total Earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    $430,277   $477,253   $469,946   $466,675   $486,022   $471,892

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. . . . . . . .        2.95       3.40       3.42       3.28       3.43       3.29