<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  UT
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 006
<NAME>  WEST TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                     JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                            668,851
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                              952
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                79,952
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                              23,463
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                        47,957
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       821,175
<COMMON>                                                             137,214
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              2,236
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                  124,034
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                       263,484
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                            2,484
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                 276,855
<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>                                       278,352
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                        821,175
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                            183,883
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                   3,287
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           160,736
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           164,023
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                               19,860
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       498
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                        20,358
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              12,492
<NET-INCOME>                                                           7,866
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               92
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                          8,957
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               8,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             10,176
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                14,105
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.00
        






</TABLE>