<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO 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>                    2,774,943
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    118,226
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,024,468
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        61,229
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 529,581
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,508,447
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      462,312
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            597,357
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,380,870
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,850
<PREFERRED>                                     17,479
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,029,513
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              99,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  10,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   18,605
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0  
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    119,231
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                27,803
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,792,996
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,508,447
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,539,736
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            65,565
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,325,237
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,390,802
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        148,934
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,687
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 153,621
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        40,126
<NET-INCOME>                                   113,495
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        738
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  112,757
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       105,550
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       18,746
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         254,977
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>