<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO 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>                    2,770,561
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    246,654
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         994,931
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        82,570
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 572,025
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,666,741
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      462,366
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            584,045
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,367,612
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,850
<PREFERRED>                                     17,211
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,072,702
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 194,090
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   11,283
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    107,424
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                29,235
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,855,334
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,666,741
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,016,808
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            68,955
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     795,569
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     864,524
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        152,284
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,508
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 153,792
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        41,106
<NET-INCOME>                                   112,686
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        734
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  111,952
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       115,406
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       13,849
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         142,797
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>