<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>  0000092487
<NAME>  SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 005
<NAME>  SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER 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>                                            1,837,221
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                              6,052
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 180,891
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                19,024
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                          53,872
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       2,097,060
<COMMON>                                                               135,660
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              245,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                    334,003
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                         714,663
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                              4,707
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                   614,092
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                      11,917
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                           40,595
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                              2,212
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                         3,337
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                         705,537
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                        2,097,060
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                              756,044
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                    45,416
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             582,647
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             628,063
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                127,981
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       2,095
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                         130,076
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                40,620
<NET-INCOME>                                                            89,456
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                648
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                           87,953
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                78,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                               29,426
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                 185,506
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                             0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0.00
        



</TABLE>