<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>