<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
<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>                    1,867,682
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     25,133
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         203,442
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        34,368
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 418,834
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,549,459
<COMMON>                                        41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      574,568
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             86,019
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 701,613
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           75,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           896,953
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              14,850
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  83,700
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   30,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     26,902
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 5,041
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 715,400
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,549,459
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      540,063
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            29,649
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     414,815
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     444,464
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         95,599
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (2,520)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  93,079
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        40,457
<NET-INCOME>                                    52,622
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,044
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   49,578
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        37,938
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       31,786
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          87,625
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>