<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000004904
<NAME> AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                       11,696
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,119
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           2,590
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         1,908
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   2,817
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  20,130
<COMMON>                                         1,310
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        1,885
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              1,720
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   4,915
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              128
<PREFERRED>                                         46
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             6,542
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                 117
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                     509
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      490
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        446
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    83
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                   6,854
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                   20,130
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                        1,694
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                93
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       1,313
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       1,406
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                            288
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  (5)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                     283
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           129
<NET-INCOME>                                       154
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          3<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                      151
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           115
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                           48
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                             403
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.79
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.79
<FN>
<F1>Represents preferred stock dividend requirements of
subsidiaries; deducted before computation of net income.
</FN>