<ARTICLE> UT
 
 <LEGEND>
 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
 FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED ON FORM 10-Q
 FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 FOR PORTLAND GENERAL
 CORPORATION (PGC) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
 TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
 </LEGEND>
<CIK>    0000079636
<NAME>   PORTLAND GENERAL CORPORATION
 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000
 
        
 
                                                        
 
 <PERIOD-TYPE>                                             3-MOS
 <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         DEC-31-1996
 <PERIOD-END>                                              SEP-30-1996
 <BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
 <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                   1,759,861
 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                   346,549
 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        216,458
 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                    1,116,379
 <OTHER-ASSETS>                                                      0
 <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                              3,439,247
 <COMMON>                                                      192,010
 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                     579,346
 <RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                           182,433
 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                953,789
 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                          30,000
 <PREFERRED>                                                         0
 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                          861,694
 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                  0
 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                           0
 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                174,893
 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                  79,000
 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                           0
 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                     7,365
 <LEASES-CURRENT>                                                2,582
 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                              1,329,924
 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                               3,439,247
 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                     260,091
 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                           18,684
 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    196,665
 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    215,349
 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                        44,742
 <OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                             (3,335)
 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                 41,407
 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       20,285
 <NET-INCOME>                                                   21,122
 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       581
 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                  20,541
 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       16,384
 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                      64,190
 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                        103,536
 <EPS-PRIMARY>                                                   $0.40
 <EPS-DILUTED>                                                   $0.40
 
 <FN>
 <F1>Represents the 12 month-to-date figure ending September 30, 1996.
 </FN>