<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary information extracted from the WICOR, Inc. FORM
10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements and the related footnotes.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      377,896
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     65,557
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         309,198
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       245,846
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 998,497
<COMMON>                                        18,588
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      231,421
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            133,947
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 383,956
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           189,763
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      150,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  62,187
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,680
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 385,911
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  998,497
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      744,012
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,650
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     680,094
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     699,744
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         44,268
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 184
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  44,452
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        12,300
<NET-INCOME>                                    32,152
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   32,152
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        23,403
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                          439
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          87,669
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.74