<ARTICLE> UT <CIK> 0000055387 <NAME> KENTUCKY UTILITIES COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,469,426 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 12,697 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 229,219 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 54,802 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,766,144 <COMMON> 307,545 <F1> <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0 <F2> <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 305,877 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 613,422 <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> 566,371 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,766,144 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 622,415 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 50,024 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 466,534 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 516,558 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 105,857 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (16,024) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 89,833 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 28,923 <NET-INCOME> 60,910 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1,692 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 59,218 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 58,091 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 27,983 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 175,077 <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>