<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000008192
<NAME> ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,794,791
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     83,670
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         303,728
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       334,027
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,516,216
<COMMON>                                        54,963
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      489,247
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            233,695
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 777,905
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           43,950
<PREFERRED>                                    100,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           817,084
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             127,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      175
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       10,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     37,538
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   715
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 601,349
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,516,216
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      236,126
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            11,747
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     189,031
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     200,778
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         35,348
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,019
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  37,367
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,552
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,371
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,410
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   18,961
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,213
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (33,200)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0