<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER 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>                    1,901,648
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     41,265
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         286,930
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        53,090
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 354,490
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,637,423
<COMMON>                                        41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      572,207
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            142,623
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 755,856
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           939,659
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              26,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  34,050
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   24,750
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     33,823
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 6,126
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 792,159
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,637,423
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      375,481
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,680
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     315,572
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     330,252
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         45,229
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 (28)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  45,201
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        19,556
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,645
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        533
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   25,112
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,661
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,763
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          49,974
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>