<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000857571
<NAME> AEP GENERATING 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>                      376,259
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          6
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          35,668
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         1,486
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   5,639
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 419,058
<COMMON>                                         1,000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       39,235
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              2,528
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  42,763
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            69,570
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              11,750
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,259
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   560
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 293,156
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  419,058
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      227,868
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,068
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     215,760
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     218,828
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          9,040
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,603
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  12,643
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,857
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,786
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    8,786
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,144
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          34,984
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>