<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>                                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                       673,079
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                       1,033
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           71,493
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                          9,844
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   43,055
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  798,504
<COMMON>                                                        137,214
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         2,236
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                             117,189
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                  256,639
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                       2,482
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                            282,211
<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>                                  257,172
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                   798,504
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       424,953
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                             20,643
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      344,944
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      365,587
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                          59,366
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                2,712
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                   62,078
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         24,263
<NET-INCOME>                                                     37,814
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         104
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                    37,710
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         40,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                        20,352
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                           59,660
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         0
        

</TABLE>