EXHIBIT 12
                            OHIO POWER COMPANY
      Computation of Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                     (in thousands except ratio data) 

                                                                                                           Twelve
                                                                                                           Months
                                                                   Year Ended December 31,                 Ended
                                                        1993       1994       1995       1996       1997    3/31/98 
                                                                                          
Fixed Charges:                                                                                            
  Interest on First Mortgage Bonds. . . . . . . .    $ 74,121   $ 63,805   $ 61,836   $ 52,147   $ 45,540   $ 43,376
  Interest on Other Long-term Debt. . . . . . . .      24,510     21,453     23,193     27,045     29,620     30,943
  Interest on Short-term Debt . . . . . . . . . .       1,122        992      2,658      4,006      4,519      5,228
  Miscellaneous Interest Charges. . . . . . . . .       2,958      5,140      7,126      3,705      4,464      4,789
  Estimated Interest Element in Lease Rentals . .      15,300     13,900     50,700     53,200     52,900     52,900
       Total Fixed Charges. . . . . . . . . . . .    $118,011   $105,290   $145,513   $140,103   $137,043   $137,236
                                                                                               
Earnings:                                                                                      
  Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    $185,770   $162,626   $189,447   $217,655   $208,689   $203,534
  Plus Federal Income Taxes . . . . . . . . . . .      64,244     74,822     93,699    117,243    121,559    117,491
  Plus State Income Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . .       2,626      3,375      1,618      2,252      2,655      2,676
  Plus Fixed Charges (as above) . . . . . . . . .     118,011    105,290    145,513    140,103    137,043    137,236
       Total Earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    $370,651   $346,113   $430,277   $477,253   $469,946   $460,937
                                                                                               
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. . . . . . . .        3.14       3.28       2.95       3.40       3.42       3.35