<ARTICLE>                       UT
<CIK> 0000060549
<NAME> LOUISVILLE GAS AND ELECTRIC 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>                         1,707,628
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                           1,109
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                              274,253
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             71,292
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    2,054,282
<COMMON>                                            424,335 <F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                85 <F2>
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                 239,064
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                      663,484
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                          95,328
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                626,800
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                        0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                            0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                             0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                 0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                               0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                          0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                      668,670
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                     2,054,282
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                           434,733
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 26,082
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                          342,696
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                          368,778
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                              65,955
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  (23,825)<F3>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       42,130
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             18,710
<NET-INCOME>                                         23,420
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           2,266
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        21,154
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             41,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            17,469
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                              111,674
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0
<FN>
<F1>Includes common stock expense of $836.
<F2>Represents unrealized loss on marketable securities,
    net of taxes.
<F3>Includes merger cost to achieve.  See Note 2 of Notes
    to Financial Statements.
</FN>