<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000092487
<NAME> SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>              YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                       DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,851,958
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>              2,881
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 177,678
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                29,555
<OTHER-ASSETS>                          37,084
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       2,099,156
<COMMON>                               135,660
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              245,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    321,801
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         702,461
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   32,464
<PREFERRED>                             16,032
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   539,324
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                      57,495
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>               50,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>              145
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                1,200
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>              7,827
<LEASES-CURRENT>                         2,415
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         689,793
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        2,099,156
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              920,786
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    39,870
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             742,833
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             782,703
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                138,083
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                     (21,178)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>         116,905
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                50,349
<NET-INCOME>                            66,556
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>              3,053
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           63,503
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                44,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>               31,274
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                 199,925
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             0.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0.31