<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000857571
<NAME> AEP GENERATING COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      379,943
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          6
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          37,885
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         2,413
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   5,694
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 425,941
<COMMON>                                         1,000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       42,235
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              2,713
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  45,948
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            69,565
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,358
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   561
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 308,509
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  425,941
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      170,665
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,474
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     161,140
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     163,614
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          7,051
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,631
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   9,682
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,997
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,685
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,685
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,858
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          41,156
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>