<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 
 ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES (PGE) AND IS QUALIFIED IN 
 ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 </LEGEND>
<CIK>     0000784977
<NAME>    PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY 
 <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>                            159,918
 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 202,381
 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             1,114,506
 <OTHER-ASSETS>                                               0
 <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       3,236,666
 <COMMON>                                               160,346
 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                              471,522
 <RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                    266,404
 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                         898,272
 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   30,000
 <PREFERRED>                                                  0
 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                   861,694
 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           0
 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    0
 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                         174,525
 <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>                       1,183,228
 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                        3,236,666
 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                              259,656
 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                    18,435
 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             195,707
 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             214,142
 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                 45,514
 <OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                       2,091
 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                          47,605
 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                19,686
 <NET-INCOME>                                            27,919
 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                581
 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                           27,338
 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                56,014
 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                               61,803
 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                 104,202
 <EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0
 <EPS-DILUTED>                                                0
 
 <FN>
 <F1>Represents the 12 month-to-date figure ending September 30, 1996.
 </FN>