<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000004904
<NAME> AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,356,110
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    838,245
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,543,838
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       298,978
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,948,635
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              15,985,806
<COMMON>                                     1,273,845
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,671,237
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,477,852
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,422,934
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          515,085
<PREFERRED>                                    118,240
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,811,799
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              91,100
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  74,076
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  338,317
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       30,150
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    327,214
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                98,568
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,158,323
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               15,985,806
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,517,781
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           103,965
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,121,694
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,225,659
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        292,122
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (1,127)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 290,995
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       100,025
<NET-INCOME>                                   180,012
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     10,958<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  180,012
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       111,983
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       66,952
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         413,175
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.96
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.96
<FN>
<F1>Represents preferred stock dividend requirements of
subsidiaries; deducted before computation of net income.
</FN>