<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000004904
<NAME> AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,656,276
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,852,341
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,920,960
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       226,263
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,820,407
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              17,476,247
<COMMON>                                     1,302,178
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,832,744
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,726,249
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,861,171
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          127,605
<PREFERRED>                                     46,257
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         5,408,997
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             296,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 239,108
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   90,793
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    447,043
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               103,984
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,854,989
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               17,476,247
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    9,546,566
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           297,716
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   8,454,149
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   8,751,865
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        794,701
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (5,572)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 789,129
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       316,938
<NET-INCOME>                                   464,036
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      8,155<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  464,036
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       342,804
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      154,834
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         845,395
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $2.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $2.44
<FN>
<F1>Represents preferred stock dividend requirements of
subsidiaries; deducted before computation of net income.
</FN>