<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000004904
<NAME> AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,468,917
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,321,882
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,451,750
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       233,948
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,850,321
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              16,326,818
<COMMON>                                     1,288,226
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,745,759
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,615,039
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,649,024
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          127,605
<PREFERRED>                                     46,869
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         5,077,757
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             104,575
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 534,825
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  265,870
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    371,014
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                94,417
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,054,862
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               16,326,818
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,874,227
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           186,634
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,194,360
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,380,994
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        493,233
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              10,195
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 503,428
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       197,473
<NET-INCOME>                                   293,700
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     12,255<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  293,700
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       226,170
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      119,995
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         566,420
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $1.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $1.56
<FN>
<F1>Represents preferred stock dividend requirements of
subsidiaries; deducted before computation of net income.
</FN>