<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000055373
<NAME> KENTUCKY 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>                      671,984
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      6,439
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          64,217
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        10,783
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  88,992
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 842,415
<COMMON>                                        50,450
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      108,750
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             86,531
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 245,731
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           293,234
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              15,250
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  43,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      9,756
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,107
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 231,437
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  842,415
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       88,580
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             5,459
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      67,881
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      73,340
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         15,240
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (141)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  15,099
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,968
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,131
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    9,131
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,690
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,509
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          15,148
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>