<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000060549
<NAME> LOUISVILLE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
<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>                    1,701,953
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,267
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         284,565
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        58,465
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,046,250
<COMMON>                                       424,334
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                          105
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            261,386
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 685,825
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           46,223
<PREFERRED>                                     49,105
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           626,800
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<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>                 618,297
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,046,250
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      233,344
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            12,417
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     188,601
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     201,018
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         32,326
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 311
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  32,637
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,238
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,399
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,123
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   22,276
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        19,800
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        8,819
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          81,411
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0