<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO 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>                    2,787,218
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    107,439
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         584,483
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        89,066
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 547,796
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,116,002
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      459,567
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            552,605
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,333,373
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          115,000
<PREFERRED>                                     41,240
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,049,175
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 117,921
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   20,673
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0  
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    107,336
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                24,665
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,306,619
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,116,002
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      954,124
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            61,497
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     737,500
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     798,997
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        155,127
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,262
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 157,389
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        46,904
<NET-INCOME>                                   110,485
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,480
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  106,005
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        71,428
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       27,561
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         195,631
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>