<ARTICLE>                       UT
<CIK> 0000861388
<NAME> LG&E ENERGY CORP.
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                    PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                         3,155,821
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         470,464
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                              671,161
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                            127,148
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    4,424,594
<COMMON>                                            775,209 <F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                              (100)<F2>
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                 694,312
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                    1,469,421
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                         135,328
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                              1,230,604
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                  310,500
<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>                    1,278,720
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                     4,424,594
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                           423,073
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 26,840
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                          327,551 <F3>
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                          354,391
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                              68,682
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                    1,943
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       70,625
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             22,832
<NET-INCOME>                                         47,793
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           1,691
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        46,102
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             35,752
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            18,719
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                              116,346
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          0.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0.36
<FN>
<F1>Includes common stock expense of $1,861.
<F2>Represents unrealized loss on marketable securities,
    net of taxes.
<F3>Includes equity in earnings of affiliates of
    $3,603.
<F4>The Company restated this schedule to reflect
    its merger with KU Energy Corporation and to
    reclassify discontinued operations.
</FN>