<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Pacific Gas and Electric Company and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   17,647,274
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       2,304,740
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,537,944
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,041,462
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              23,531,420
<COMMON>                                     2,017,521
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,563,694
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,519,956
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               7,101,171
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          437,500
<PREFERRED>                                    402,056
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         6,984,006
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             126,167
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               1,051,897
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   23,645
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               7,404,978
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               23,531,420
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    4,552,742
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           245,107
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,737,231
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,737,231
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        815,511
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              22,896
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 838,407
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       290,833
<NET-INCOME>                                   302,467
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     16,556
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  285,911
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       393,445
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      204,625
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         928,022
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0