<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO POWER COMPANY
<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>                    2,803,698
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    108,345
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         558,599
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       106,878
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 556,620
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,134,140
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      459,520
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            546,611
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,327,332
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          115,000
<PREFERRED>                                     41,240
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,055,530
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              28,650
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  19,751
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   83,505
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0  
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    108,746
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                25,030
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,329,356
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,134,140
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      504,741
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            35,377
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     381,520
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     416,897
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         87,844
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,134
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  89,978
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        23,442
<NET-INCOME>                                    66,536
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,240
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   64,296
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        35,714
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       14,191
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         115,891
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>