<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>   0000105860
<NAME>  WEST TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 006
<NAME>  WEST TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                           MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
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<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                    877
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<OTHER-ASSETS>                                              42,849
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             836,611
<COMMON>                                                   137,214
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                    2,236
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        115,515
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                             254,965
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                  2,482
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       263,728
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           4,602
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<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0
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<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                             270,834
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                              836,611
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<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                         2,102
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  84,300
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  86,402
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     10,133
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                             (90)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              10,043
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     5,858
<NET-INCOME>                                                 4,185
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     26
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                4,159
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     4,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    5,088
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      36,866
<EPS-BASIC>                                                    0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0