<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000008192
<NAME> ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,788,229
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     88,786
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         273,897
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       321,333
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,472,245
<COMMON>                                        54,963
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      489,647
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            256,966
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 801,576
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           23,950
<PREFERRED>                                    100,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           758,808
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              45,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   58,575
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       10,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     36,660
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   743
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 636,033
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,472,245
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      300,338
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            25,454
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     214,976
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     240,430
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         59,908
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,187
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  65,095
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,110
<NET-INCOME>                                    47,541
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,000
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   46,541
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,214
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                               0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0