<ARTICLE>                       UT
<CIK> 0000861388
<NAME> LG&E ENERGY CORP.
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                    PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                         3,189,744
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         478,659
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                              751,401
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                            143,140
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    4,562,944
<COMMON>                                            776,393 <F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                               217 <F2>
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                 722,584
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                    1,499,194
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                         138,353
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                              1,210,690
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                  393,784
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                            0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        20,021
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                 0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                               0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                          0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                    1,300,902
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                     4,562,944
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                         1,713,419
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                115,472
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                        1,313,227 <F3>
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                        1,428,699
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                             284,720
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                    2,703
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                      287,423
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             97,586
<NET-INCOME>                                        189,837
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           6,841
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                       182,996
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                            144,366
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            75,010
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                              322,814
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          1.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          1.41
<FN>
<F1>Includes common stock expense of $1,880.
<F2>Represents unrealized loss on marketable securities,
    net of taxes.
<F3>Includes equity in earnings of affiliates of
    $22,937.
<F4>The Company restated this schedule to reflect
    its merger with KU Energy Corporation and to
    reclassify discontinued operations.
</FN>