<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO POWER COMPANY
<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>                    2,768,186
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    106,900
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         550,826
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        82,934
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 540,369
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,049,215
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      462,285
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            573,236
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,356,722
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,850
<PREFERRED>                                     17,575
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           969,590
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 112,225
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  129,472
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0  
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    109,165
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                26,788
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,315,828
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,049,215
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      931,447
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            66,350
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     715,474
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     781,824
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        149,623
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,530
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 157,153
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        41,243
<NET-INCOME>                                   115,910
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,908
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  114,002
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       124,209
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       24,404
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         227,476
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>