<ARTICLE>                                                              UT
<LEGEND>       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
               EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
               WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATION FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
               SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
               REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  THIS SCHEDULE
               REFLECTS RECLASSIFICATION OF AMOUNTS TO CONFORM TO
               THE COMPANY'S CURRENT FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                        1,000
                                                           
<CURRENCY>                                                    U.S.DOLLARS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                  SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                       9-MOS
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                         1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                     PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> <F1>                                  3,263,882
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> <F2>                                  935,366
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            544,603
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                    437,162
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  5,181,013
<COMMON>                                                            1,153
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         748,985
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                             1,135,581
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                  1,885,719
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                                        30,450
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                            1,214,974
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                 60,267
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                         306,871
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                    182,511
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                      58,061
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                               0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                       173,601
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                   23,095
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                  1,245,464
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                   5,181,013
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       1,510,902
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                               71,721
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      1,232,768
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> <F3>                                 1,232,768
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> <F3>                                      278,134
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                 19,294
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> <F4>                               297,428
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> <F5>                                      89,629
<NET-INCOME> <F6>                                                 136,078
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> <F7>                                        0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                     136,078
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                          132,429
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                               0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                            400,911
<EPS-BASIC>                                                        1.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        1.19
<FN>
<F1>  TOTAL NET UTILITY PLANT IS $3,524,816 OF NET PROPERTY,
      PLANT AND EQUIPMENT LESS $260,934 OF NET NON-UTILITY
      PROPERTY.
<F2>  OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS IS $674,432 OF INVESTMENTS
      PLUS $260,934 OF NET NON-UTILITY PROPERTY.
<F3>  TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES AND OPERATING INCOME OR LOSS
      EXCLUDE INCOME TAXES OF $71,721.
<F4>  INCOME BEFORE INTEREST EXPENSE AND INCOME TAXES.
<F5>  TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE INCLUDES $902 OF PREFERRED DIVIDEND
      REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSIDIARY.
<F6>  NET INCOME IS AFTER INCOME TAXES OF $71,721.
<F7>  PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS ARE INCLUDED IN TOTAL INTEREST
      EXPENSE.
SEE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES IN THE ACCOMPANYING 10-Q.
</FN>