<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>