<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,867,038
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     25,950
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         196,770
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        66,363
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 438,005
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,594,126
<COMMON>                                        41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      574,427
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             74,320
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 689,773
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           75,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           990,796
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        7,500
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     22,981
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,835
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 803,241
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,594,126
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,071,862
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            58,793
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     827,261
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     886,054
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        185,808
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,202
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 191,010
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        80,394
<NET-INCOME>                                   110,616
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     11,907
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   98,709
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        71,900
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       66,811
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         206,579
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>