<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000006879
<NAME> APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY
<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>                    2,945,661
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     29,233
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         327,759
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        65,583
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 446,571
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,814,807
<COMMON>                                       260,458
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      575,197
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            211,382
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,047,037
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           22,310
<PREFERRED>                                     19,859
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,445,630
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  76,450
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       13
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       47,750
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     46,352
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                10,635
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,098,771
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,814,807
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      416,450
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,243
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     328,873
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     352,116
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         64,334
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 244
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  64,578
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        28,094
<NET-INCOME>                                    36,484
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,965
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   31,519
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        28,609
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       20,429
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         110,958
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>