<ARTICLE>                       UT
<CIK> 0000861388
<NAME> LG&E ENERGY CORP.
<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>                    1,687,863
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    644,721
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         801,464
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       113,869
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,247,917
<COMMON>                                       468,815 <F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                          128 <F2>
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            360,027
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 828,970
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     95,328
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           664,315
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             289,161
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   20,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,350,143
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,247,917
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,164,330
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            43,639
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,008,500 <F3>
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,052,139
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        112,191
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,140
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 119,331
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        43,849
<NET-INCOME>                                    75,482
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,433
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   72,049
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        58,016
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       28,436
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         174,737
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.08
<FN>
<F1>Includes common stock expense of $1,279.
<F2>Represents unrealized loss on marketable securities,
    net of taxes.
<F3>Includes equity in earnings of affiliates of
    $14,926.
</FN>