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

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,762,624
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    370,948
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,715,603
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        65,565
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 782,102
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,696,842
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      462,469
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            615,834
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,399,504
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            8,850
<PREFERRED>                                     16,683
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,127,612
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   87,085
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     92,320
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                34,419
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,930,369
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,696,842
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,085,732
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            69,929
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     870,722
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     940,651
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        145,081
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,150
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 149,231
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        44,782
<NET-INCOME>                                   104,449
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        636
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  103,813
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        75,406
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       11,496
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         316,366
<EPS-BASIC>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>
 All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>