<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000004904
<NAME> AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,340,685
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    866,659
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,396,812
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       206,709
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,875,724
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              15,686,589
<COMMON>                                     1,279,427
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,702,102
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,528,045
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,509,574
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          490,225
<PREFERRED>                                    115,365
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,813,827
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              69,364
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 205,987
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   72,297
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       25,007
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    330,337
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                93,260
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               4,961,346
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               15,686,589
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    4,403,144
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           279,838
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,350,814
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,630,652
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        772,492
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,558 
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 776,050
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       289,266
<NET-INCOME>                                   455,002
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     31,782<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  455,002
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       336,651
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      190,437
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         984,560
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $2.43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $2.43
<FN>
<F1>Represents preferred stock dividend requirements of
subsidiaries; deducted before computation of net income.
</FN>