<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1996 AND THE STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE
PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,458,456
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     12,131
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         146,160
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        37,124
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,653,871
<COMMON>                                       308,140
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        (594)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            279,668
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 587,214
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     40,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           546,373
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              15,400
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       21
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 464,863
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,653,871
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      190,996
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,336
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     139,672
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     156,008
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         34,988
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,713
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  37,701
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        10,198
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,503
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        564
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   26,939
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,262
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        9,588
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          78,018
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>ALL OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK OF KENTUCKY UTILITIES COMPANY IS HELD BY ITS
PARENT COMPANY, KU ENERGY CORPORATION.  THEREFORE, EARNINGS PER SHARE IS NOT
APPLICABLE.
</FN>