<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022198
<NAME> COLUMBUS SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,952,328
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 144,551
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 455,964
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 25,455
<OTHER-ASSETS> 298,235
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,876,533
<COMMON> 41,026
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 573,314
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 131,167
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 745,507
15,000
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 899,486
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 43,970
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 31,182
<LEASES-CURRENT> 7,299
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,134,089
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,876,533
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,015,803
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 70,015
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 767,304
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 837,319
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 178,484
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> (21,738)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 156,746
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 53,634
<NET-INCOME> 103,112
1,481
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 101,631
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 216,950
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 30,658
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 351,281
<EPS-BASIC> 0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED> 0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> All common stock owned by parent company; no EPS required.
</FN>
</TABLE>
