<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>  0000105860
<NAME>  WEST TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                     DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                            667,564
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                            1,167
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                73,874
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                              15,628
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                        43,915
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       802,148
<COMMON>                                                             137,214
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              2,236
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                  119,479
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                       258,929
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                            2,483
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                 278,640
<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>                                       262,096
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                        802,148
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                            397,778
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                   9,490
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           343,721
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           353,211
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                               44,567
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                     1,464
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                        46,031
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              24,570
<NET-INCOME>                                                          21,461
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              144
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                         22,402
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              26,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             20,352
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                95,246
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.00
        



</TABLE>