<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000857571
<NAME> AEP GENERATING COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      372,143
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          6
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          36,372
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         3,394
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   6,164
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 418,079
<COMMON>                                         1,000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       39,235
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              1,732
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  41,967
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            44,786
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              15,175
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,133
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   547
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 314,471
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  418,079
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       54,052
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                               935
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      50,781 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      51,716
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          2,336
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 829
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   3,165
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           785
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,380
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    2,380
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,176
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          26,057
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>