<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>  0000092487
<NAME>  SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                   JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                        1,847,460
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                          6,158
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             195,738
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                            18,124
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                      53,573
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   2,121,053
<COMMON>                                                           135,660
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                          245,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                337,430
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     718,090
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                          4,707
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                               653,293
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                  60,222
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                           0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                          595
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                          4,364
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                     2,316
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                     677,466
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                    2,121,053
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                          444,495
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                17,253
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         358,783
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         376,036
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                             68,459
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                   1,816
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                      70,275
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            27,448
<NET-INCOME>                                                        42,827
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                            591
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                       41,381
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                            28,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                           19,617
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                              77,313
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         0.00
        



</TABLE>