<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000004904
<NAME> AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,416,209
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    917,497
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,407,780
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       292,707
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,871,497
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              15,905,690
<COMMON>                                     1,285,115
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,731,695
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,607,776
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,624,586
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          127,605
<PREFERRED>                                     46,933
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         4,786,636
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              74,046
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 260,272
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  296,289
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       47,750
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    353,361
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                83,827
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,204,385
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               15,905,690
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,492,069
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           111,888
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,108,203
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,220,091
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        271,978
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,509
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 276,487
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        93,822
<NET-INCOME>                                   172,562
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     10,103<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  172,562
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       112,943
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       60,321
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         417,011
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.92
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.92
<FN>
<F1>Represents preferred stock dividend requirements of
subsidiaries; deducted before computation of net income.
</FN>