EXHIBIT 12
                            OHIO POWER COMPANY
      Computation of Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                     (in thousands except ratio data) 

                                                                                                           Twelve
                                                                                                           Months
                                                                   Year Ended December 31,                 Ended
                                                      1991        1992       1993       1994       1995    9/30/96 
                                                                                         
Fixed Charges:                                                                                          
  Interest on First Mortgage Bonds. . . . . . . .  $ 71,765    $ 83,572   $ 74,121   $ 63,805   $ 61,836   $ 54,685
  Interest on Other Long-term Debt. . . . . . . .    28,575      26,611     24,510     21,453     23,193     27,154
  Interest on Short-term Debt . . . . . . . . . .     5,973       2,711      1,122        992      2,658      3,561
  Miscellaneous Interest Charges. . . . . . . . .     3,237       2,800      2,958      5,140      7,126      4,838
  Estimated Interest Element in Lease Rentals . .    22,800      22,800     15,300     13,900     50,700     50,700
       Total Fixed Charges. . . . . . . . . . . .  $132,350    $138,494   $118,011   $105,290   $145,513   $140,938
                                                                                                        
Earnings:                                                                                               
  Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $166,102    $160,553   $185,770   $162,626   $189,447   $212,504
  Plus Federal Income Taxes . . . . . . . . . . .    78,480      75,783     64,244     74,822     93,699    111,048
  Plus State Income Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . .     1,898       1,082      2,626      3,375      1,618      1,998
  Plus Fixed Charges (as above) . . . . . . . . .   132,350     138,494    118,011    105,290    145,513    140,938
       Total Earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $378,830    $375,912   $370,651   $346,113   $430,277   $466,488
                                                                                                        
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. . . . . . . .      2.86        2.71       3.14       3.28       2.95       3.30