<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>