<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,947,098
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 178,934
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 784,424
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 41,862
<OTHER-ASSETS> 340,005
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,292,323
<COMMON> 41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 573,063
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 261,024
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 875,113
15,000
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 917,832
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0
10,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 32,305
<LEASES-CURRENT> 7,245
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,434,828
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 3,292,323
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 629,220
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 36,730
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 497,568
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 534,298
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 94,922
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 4,181
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 99,103
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 36,297
<NET-INCOME> 62,806
1,065
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 61,741
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 47,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 20,680
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 225,179
<EPS-BASIC> 0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED> 0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>
</TABLE>
