<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO 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>                    2,776,056
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    118,563
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         539,490
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        78,350
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 541,358
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,053,817
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      462,285
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            585,975
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,369,461
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,850
<PREFERRED>                                     17,575
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,014,661
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              11,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  82,525
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   83,024
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0  
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    121,599
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                28,980
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,312,242
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,053,817
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,417,845
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            94,319
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,104,787
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,199,106
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        218,739
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               9,803
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 228,542
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        61,961
<NET-INCOME>                                   166,581
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,278
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  164,303
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       161,771
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       35,107
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         310,770
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>