<ARTICLE> UT

<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FILED  ON  FORM 10-K FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 FOR PORTLAND GENERAL CORPORATION (PGC) AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CIK> 0000079636
<NAME> PORTLAND GENERAL CORPORATION
       


                                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                            DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                 DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                 PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                    1,782,159
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                    454,001
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         258,949
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                     1,088,140
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               3,583,249
<COMMON>                                                       192,442
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                      584,272
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                            194,740
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                 971,454
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           30,000
<PREFERRED>                                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                           926,292
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                  92,027
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                   89,937
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      6,750
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 2,622
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                               1,464,167
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                3,583,249
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                    1,111,816
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                           109,988
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                     777,269
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                     887,257
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                        224,559
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                             (14,692)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                 209,867
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        77,538
<NET-INCOME>                                                   132,329
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      2,793
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                  129,536
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                        65,516
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                       63,699
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                         345,747
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    $2.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    $2.53

<FN>
<F1>Represents the 12 month-to-date figure ending December 31, 1996.
</FN>