<ARTICLE>                       UT
<CIK> 0000060549
<NAME> LOUISVILLE GAS AND ELECTRIC 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>                         1,709,144
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                           1,092
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                              317,407
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             68,651
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    2,096,294
<COMMON>                                            424,334 <F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                               106 <F2>
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                 260,790
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                      685,230
<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>                      688,936
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                     2,096,294
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                           664,618
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 53,485
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                          491,758
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                          545,243
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                             119,375
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  (23,466)<F3>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       95,909
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             27,629
<NET-INCOME>                                         68,280
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           3,400
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        64,880
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             63,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            25,891
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                              140,071
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0
<FN>
<F1>Includes common stock expense of $836.
<F2>Represents unrealized gain/loss on marketable securities,
    net of taxes.
<F3>Includes $34,134 Merger costs to achieve.
</FN>