<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS TABLE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND THE STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR
THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,480,183
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     49,183
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         147,472
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        46,204
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,723,042
<COMMON>                                       308,137
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                         (594)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            351,506
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 659,049
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     40,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           546,351
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              29,900
<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>                 447,721
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,723,042
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      533,864
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            37,487
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     409,289
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     446,776
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         87,088
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,895
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  94,983
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        31,517
<NET-INCOME>                                    63,466
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   63,466
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        49,919
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       28,039
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         133,401
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.68