<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,919,132
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     95,506
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         386,200
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        38,129
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 339,480
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,778,447
<COMMON>                                        41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      572,682
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            203,354
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 817,062
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           946,058
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  70,400
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   14,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     34,368
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 7,015
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 864,544
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,778,447
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      580,486
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            37,886
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     442,080
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     479,966
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        100,520
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (117)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 100,403
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        38,426
<NET-INCOME>                                    61,977
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,065
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   60,912
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        43,998
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,172
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          73,361
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>