<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000073986
<NAME> OHIO POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,805,802
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    113,925
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         612,468
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       107,116
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 523,891
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,163,202
<COMMON>                                       321,201
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      462,296
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            590,151
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,373,648
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,850
<PREFERRED>                                     17,542
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,012,031
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              10,700
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  68,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   83,195
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0  
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    127,180
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                30,307
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,428,749
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,163,202
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,965,818
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           128,878
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,560,547
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,689,425
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        276,393
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              14,822
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 291,215
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        82,526
<NET-INCOME>                                   208,689
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,647
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  206,042
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       199,333
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       45,540
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         442,018
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>