<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000806393
<NAME> ATLANTIC ENERGY INC
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
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<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
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<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 812,820
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           90,000
<PREFERRED>                                     30,000
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<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              87,700
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
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<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,679,681
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      281,965
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            17,227
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     213,394
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     230,621
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         51,344
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<NET-INCOME>                                    32,567
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   32,567
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,290
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          94,644
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.62