<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>