<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
<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>                    1,904,930
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     36,263
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         394,623
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        38,263
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 350,052
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,724,131
<COMMON>                                        41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      572,302
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            160,171
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 773,499
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           959,416
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              25,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  26,625
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   40,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     34,642
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 6,329
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 832,720
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,724,131
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      868,766
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            37,945
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     728,441
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     766,386
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        102,380
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,228
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 103,608
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        39,221
<NET-INCOME>                                    64,387
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,065
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   63,322
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        41,322
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       24,932
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          77,243
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>