<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000105860
<NAME> WEST TEXAS UTILITIES 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>             673,364
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>               700
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 68,798
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                8,957
<OTHER-ASSETS>                         58,560
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        810,379
<COMMON>                              137,214
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>               2,236
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                   123,077
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>        262,527
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       0
<PREFERRED>                             6,291
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                  275,070
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                     14,833
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                   0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>               0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                   0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                 0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>        251,658
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>         810,379
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>             377,057
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                   15,338
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>            309,985
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>            325,323
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                51,734
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                     (9,922)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>         41,812
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>               25,241
<NET-INCOME>                           16,571
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>               264
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>          16,307
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>               19,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>              21,169
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                 70,763
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            0.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                            0.08