<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000081100
<NAME> PUGET SOUND POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,294,532
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    207,433
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         263,222
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 394,722
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,159,909
<COMMON>                                       636,409
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      328,963
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            199,560
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,164,932
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           87,840
<PREFERRED>                                    125,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           920,549
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              52,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  68,405
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    8,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 732,283
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,159,909
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      841,208
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            56,776
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     646,842
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     703,618
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        137,590
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               8,020
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 145,610
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        57,438
<NET-INCOME>                                    88,172
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     11,337
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   76,835
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        87,824
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       52,393
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         278,555
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.21