<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS TABLE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND THE STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE
PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000835715
<NAME> KU ENERGY CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,474,908
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     48,002
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         146,690
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        42,871
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,712,471
<COMMON>                                       308,140
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        (594)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            346,191
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 653,737
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     40,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           546,351
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              12,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       21
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 459,862
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,712,471
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      178,908
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,334
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     130,438
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     145,772
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         33,136
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,167
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  35,303
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        10,440
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,863
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   24,863
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,640
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        9,291
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          72,341
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .66