<ARTICLE> UT <CIK> 0000806393 <NAME> ATLANTIC ENERGY, INC. <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> 306,523 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 293,776 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 351,357 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,739,885 <COMMON> 562,684 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 246,258 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 808,942 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 23,950 <PREFERRED> 100,000 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 786,308 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 45,900 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 211,575 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 10,000 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 36,660 <LEASES-CURRENT> 743 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 715,807 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,739,885 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 297,367 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 25,454 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 214,972 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 240,426 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 56,941 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 8,079 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 65,020 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,110 <NET-INCOME> 48,910 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 2,444 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 46,466 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 20,214 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 0 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.89 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.89