UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):     August 17, 1998

COMMISSION             REGISTRANT, STATE OF INCORPORATION,     I.R.S. EMPLOYER
FILE NUMBER              ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER         IDENTIFICATION NO.

1-1443                 CENTRAL AND SOUTH WEST CORPORATION         51-0007707
                       (A Delaware Corporation)
                       1616 Woodall Rodgers Freeway
                       Dallas, Texas 75202-1234
                       (214) 777-1000

0-343                  PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA         73-0410895
                       (An Oklahoma Corporation)
                       212 East 6th Street
                       Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-1212
                       (918) 599-2000

1-3146                 SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY        72-0323455
                       (A Delaware Corporation)
                       428 Travis Street
                       Shreveport, Louisiana 71156-0001
                       (318) 222-2141








GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following abbreviations or acronyms used in this text are defined below:

ABBREVIATION OR ACRONYM    DEFINITION
AEP........................American Electric Power Company, Inc., Columbus, Ohio
CSW........................Central and South West Corporation, Dallas, Texas
CSW System.................CSW and its subsidiaries
PSO........................Public Service Company of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma
SWEPCO.....................Southwestern Electric Power Company, Shreveport, 
                           Louisiana






















FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This report made by CSW and its subsidiaries contains forward looking statements
within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Although CSW and each of its subsidiaries believe that, in making any
such statements, their expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any
such statements may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes
and results to be materially different from those projected. Important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward
looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impact of general
economic changes in the U.S. and in countries in which CSW either currently has
made or in the future may make investments; the impact of deregulation on the
U.S. electric utility business; increased competition and electric utility
industry restructuring in the U.S.; the impact of the proposed AEP merger
including any regulatory conditions imposed on the merger, the inability to
consummate the AEP merger, or other merger and acquisition activity including
SWEPCO's proposed acquisition of Cajun Electric Cooperative; federal and state
regulatory developments and changes in law which may have a substantial adverse
impact on the value of CSW System assets; timing and adequacy of rate relief;
adverse changes in electric load and customer growth; climatic changes or
unexpected changes in weather patterns; changing fuel prices, generating plant
and distribution facility performance; decommissioning costs associated with
nuclear generating facilities; uncertainties in foreign operations and foreign
laws affecting CSW's investments in those countries; the effects of retail
competition in the natural gas and electricity distribution and supply
businesses in the United Kingdom; and the timing and success of efforts to
develop domestic and international power projects. In the non-utility area, the
aforementioned factors would also apply, and, in addition, would include, but
are not limited to: the ability to compete effectively in new areas, including
telecommunications, power marketing and brokering, and other energy related
services, as well as evolving federal and state regulatory legislation and
policies that may adversely affect those industries generally or the CSW
System's business in areas in which it operates.








ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     On Monday, August 17, 1998, CSW issued news releases related to its
proposed merger with AEP, which are incorporated by reference and attached as
exhibits.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)  Exhibits.

      Exhibit 99.1      CSW News Release dated August 17, 1998 relating to PSO.
      Exhibit 99.2      CSW News Release dated August 17, 1998 relating to 
                         SWEPCO.


SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                        CENTRAL AND SOUTH WEST CORPORATION


Date:  August 20, 1998

                        By:  /S/ LAWRENCE B. CONNORS
                             Lawrence B. Connors
                             Controller


                        PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA
                        SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY


Date:  August 20, 1998

                        By:  /S/ R. RUSSELL DAVIS
                             R. Russell Davis
                             Controller