<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000004904
<NAME> AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,629,338
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,499,427
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       2,641,032
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       223,797
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,818,641
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              17,812,235
<COMMON>                                     1,299,147
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,815,409
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,645,466
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,760,022
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          127,605
<PREFERRED>                                     46,350
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         5,133,689
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             388,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 117,775
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  423,109
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    450,313
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               103,050
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               6,261,822
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               17,812,235
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    4,908,434
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           177,599
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   4,247,713
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   4,425,312
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        483,122
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 702
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 483,824
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       209,785
<NET-INCOME>                                   268,671
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      5,368<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  268,671
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       228,221
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      106,560
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         570,078
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $1.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $1.41
<FN>
<F1>Represents preferred stock dividend requirements of
subsidiaries; deducted before computation of net income.
</FN>