<ARTICLE>                       UT
<CIK> 0000861388
<NAME> LG&E ENERGY CORP.
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                    PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                         3,168,046
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         480,133
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                              674,555
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                            128,626
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    4,451,360
<COMMON>                                            776,357 <F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                               128 <F2>
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                 711,534
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                    1,488,019
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                         135,328
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                              1,210,666
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                  319,061
<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>                    1,278,265
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                     4,451,360
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                         1,273,123
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 89,169
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                          965,487 <F3>
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                        1,054,656
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                             218,467
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                   (4,660)<F4>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                      213,807 <F4>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             73,167
<NET-INCOME>                                        140,640
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           5,125
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                       135,515
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                            107,935
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            56,475
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                              276,741
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          1.05
<FN>
<F1>Includes common stock expense of $1,874.
<F2>Represents unrealized loss on marketable securities,
    net of taxes.
<F3>Includes equity in earnings of affiliates of
    $16,230.
<F4>Includes loss from discontinued operations
    of $15,668, net of income taxes.
<F5>The Company restated this schedule to reflect
    its merger with KU Energy Corporation and to
    reclassify discontinued operations.
</FN>