<ARTICLE>                       UT
<CIK> 0000055387
<NAME> KENTUCKY UTILITIES COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                 JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                    PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                         1,471,566
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          13,123
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                              154,231
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             55,034
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    1,693,954
<COMMON>                                            307,545 <F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                 0 <F2>
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                 287,462
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                      595,007
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                          40,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                546,330
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                        0
<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>                      512,596
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                     1,693,954
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                           376,298
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 24,741
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                          288,420
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                          313,161
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                              63,137
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  (19,881)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       43,256
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             19,326
<NET-INCOME>                                         23,930
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           1,128
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        22,802
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             40,090
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            18,654
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                               90,862
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0
<FN>
<F1>Includes common stock expense of $595.
<F2>Represents unrealized loss on marketable securities,
    net of taxes.
</FN>