EXHIBIT 12
                            OHIO POWER COMPANY
      Computation of Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                     (in thousands except ratio data) 

                                                                                                            Twelve
                                                                                                            Months
                                                                   Year Ended December 31,                  Ended
                                                        1994       1995       1996       1997       1998    3/31/99 
                                                                                          
Fixed Charges:                                                                                            
  Interest on First Mortgage Bonds. . . . . . . .    $ 63,805   $ 61,836   $ 52,147   $ 45,540   $ 33,663   $ 30,994
  Interest on Other Long-term Debt. . . . . . . .      21,453     23,193     27,045     29,620     38,520     41,554
  Interest on Short-term Debt . . . . . . . . . .         992      2,658      4,006      4,519      5,821      6,171
  Miscellaneous Interest Charges. . . . . . . . .       5,140      7,126      3,705      4,464      4,617      4,691
  Estimated Interest Element in Lease Rentals . .      13,900     50,700     53,200     52,900     59,300     59,300
       Total Fixed Charges. . . . . . . . . . . .    $105,290   $145,513   $140,103   $137,043   $141,921   $142,710
                                                                                               
Earnings:                                                                                      
  Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    $162,626   $189,447   $217,655   $208,689   $209,925   $210,310
  Plus Federal Income Taxes . . . . . . . . . . .      74,822     93,699    117,243    121,559    112,087    114,837
  Plus State Income Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . .       3,375      1,618      2,252      2,655      2,742      2,548
  Plus Fixed Charges (as above) . . . . . . . . .     105,290    145,513    140,103    137,043    141,921    142,710
       Total Earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    $346,113   $430,277   $477,253   $469,946   $466,675   $470,405
                                                                                               
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. . . . . . . .        3.28       2.95       3.40       3.42       3.28       3.29