<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER 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>                    1,897,967
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     34,652
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         242,242
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        21,950
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 357,773
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,554,584
<COMMON>                                        41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      572,017
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            137,238
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 750,281
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           840,002
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  94,725
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   96,390
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     32,681
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 5,853
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 709,652
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,554,584
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      841,294
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            57,643
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     628,358
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     686,001
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        155,293
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,018
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 157,311
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        59,069
<NET-INCOME>                                    98,242
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,909
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   96,333
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        59,013
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       41,539
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         117,336
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>