<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND THE STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 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-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,475,944 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 50,509 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 155,948 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 53,816 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,736,217 <COMMON> 308,137 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> (594) <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 364,966 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 672,509 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 40,000 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 546,330 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <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> 477,357 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,736,217 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 183,210 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 14,738 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 135,776 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 150,514 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 32,696 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 2,979 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 35,675 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,270 <NET-INCOME> 25,405 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 25,405 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 17,018 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 9,289 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 75,396 <EPS-PRIMARY> .67 <EPS-DILUTED> .67