<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO 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>                    2,784,687
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    126,792
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         668,962
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        82,975
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 536,643
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,200,059
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      462,296
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            597,442
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,380,939
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,850
<PREFERRED>                                     17,542
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           994,312
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              36,600
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 130,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   26,031
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0  
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    119,841
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                27,835
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,454,209
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,200,059
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      695,166
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            34,509
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     581,588
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     616,097
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         79,069
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,238
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  80,307
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        19,871
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,436
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        370
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   60,066
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        52,775
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       10,129
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         111,814
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>