<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
                                                                 EXHIBIT 27(b)


The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 1997 and the Consolidated Statement
of Income and the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months
ended September 30, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>    0000052485
<NAME>   IES UTILITIES INC.
<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>                    1,353,941
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     85,040
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         126,900
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        11,168
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 191,476
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,768,525
<COMMON>                                        33,427
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      279,042
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            236,028
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 548,497
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     18,320
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           651,781
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      140
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     24,674
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                13,294
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 511,819
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,768,525
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      601,733
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            36,550<F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     478,996
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     478,996<F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        122,737
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (364)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 122,373
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        38,446
<NET-INCOME>                                    47,377
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        686
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   46,691
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        42,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       46,711
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         157,281
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Income tax expense is not included in Operating Expense in the Consolidated
Statements of Income for IES Utilities Inc.
</FN>