<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000055373
<NAME> KENTUCKY 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>                      691,260
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      6,434
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          60,903
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         6,903
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  89,808
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 855,308
<COMMON>                                        50,450
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      118,750
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             80,744
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 249,944
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           293,307
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              35,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  36,450
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     10,596
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,167
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 226,844
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  855,308
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      256,472
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,573
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     211,393
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     220,966
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         35,506
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (351)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  35,155
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        18,431
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,724
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   16,724
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,070
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       10,528
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          35,689
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>