<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,754,825
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    277,790
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,185,917
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        80,289
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 584,216
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,883,037
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      462,402
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            595,620
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,379,223
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            8,850
<PREFERRED>                                     16,865
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,130,492
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 241,424
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   11,881
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     96,399
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                34,166
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,963,737
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,883,037
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      545,411
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            35,570
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     444,728
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     480,298
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         65,113
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,900
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  68,013
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        21,797
<NET-INCOME>                                    46,216
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        321
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   45,895
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        37,703
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,791
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         110,896
<EPS-BASIC>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>