<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>  0000105860
<NAME>  WEST TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 009
<NAME>  WEST TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                       675,812
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                       1,054
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                          104,492
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                         18,004
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   37,939
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  837,301
<COMMON>                                                        137,214
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         2,236
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                             141,829
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                  281,279
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                       2,482
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                            281,318
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                             0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                         0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                             0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                           0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                      0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                  272,222
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                   837,301
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       335,644
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                             21,705
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      257,490
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      279,195
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                          56,449
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                2,179
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                   58,628
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         18,200
<NET-INCOME>                                                     40,428
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                          78
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                    40,350
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         18,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                        15,264
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                           45,342
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      0.00
        

</TABLE>