<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000004904
<NAME> AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,344,321
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    857,200
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,492,995
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       245,711
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,917,335
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              15,857,562
<COMMON>                                     1,276,827
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,687,101
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,478,193
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,442,121
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          515,082
<PREFERRED>                                    118,240
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,766,759
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              72,650
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 453,821
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   55,674
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          150
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    332,407
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                97,597
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,003,061
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               15,857,562
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,918,722
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           173,427
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,232,548
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,405,975
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        512,747
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 (97)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 512,650
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       198,388
<NET-INCOME>                                   292,678
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     21,584<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  292,678
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       224,188
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      130,507
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         554,285
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $1.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $1.57
<FN>
<F1>Represents preferred stock dividend requirements of
subsidiaries; deducted before computation of net income.
</FN>