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

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,952,328
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    144,551
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         455,964
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        25,455
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 298,235
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,876,533
<COMMON>                                        41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      573,314
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            131,167
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 745,507
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           15,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           899,486
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              43,970
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,182
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 7,299
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,134,089
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,876,533
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,015,803
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            70,015
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     767,304
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     837,319
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        178,484
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (21,738)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 156,746
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        53,634
<NET-INCOME>                                   103,112
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,481
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  101,631
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       216,950
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       30,658
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         351,281
<EPS-BASIC>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>