<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN 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>                    1,882,514
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     23,900
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         219,899
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        54,000
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 371,991
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,552,304
<COMMON>                                        41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      571,826
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            108,727
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 721,579
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           864,498
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  99,217
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   71,640
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,283
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 5,686
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 733,401
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,552,304
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      265,007
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            17,987
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     199,590
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     217,577
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         47,430
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,036
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  48,466
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        19,142
<NET-INCOME>                                    29,324
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,493
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   27,831
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        19,671
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       13,846
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          11,020
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>