<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000806393
<NAME> ATLANTIC ENERGY INC
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,799,395
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    250,504
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         263,094
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       357,769
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,670,762
<COMMON>                                       562,746
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            224,648
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 787,394
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           43,950
<PREFERRED>                                     30,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           829,745
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              64,950
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   98,250
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       10,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     39,212
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   702
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 766,559
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,670,762
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      980,255
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            32,272
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     815,555
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     847,827
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        132,428
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,542
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 133,970
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        63,871
<NET-INCOME>                                    58,767
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   58,767
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        81,163
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         194,484
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.12