<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,778,966
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    230,832
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         942,961
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        88,536
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 549,597
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,590,892
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      462,338
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            590,251
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,373,790
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,850
<PREFERRED>                                     17,357
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           975,452
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 219,700
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   98,958
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0  
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    110,720
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                28,283
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,754,782
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,590,892
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      518,221
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            38,231
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     401,034
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     439,265
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         78,956
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,000
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  80,956
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        20,135
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,821
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        367
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   60,454
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        57,703
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        7,460
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          38,456
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>