<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY,
INCLUDED IN THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH
31, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,360,334
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    258,707
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         193,014
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       329,706
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,141,761
<COMMON>                                       583,313
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       17,002
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            147,389
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 747,704
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           85,000
<PREFERRED>                                     50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           651,851<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       16,264
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   40,336
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      4,725
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,553
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 544,328<F2>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,141,761
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      248,004
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            25,984<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     181,558
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     181,558
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         66,446
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              16,753
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  83,199<F4>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,306
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,909
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,266
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   39,643
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        17,348
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          97,416
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.71
<FN>
<F1>LONG-TERM DEBT-NET DOES NOT MATCH THE AMOUNT REPORTED ON THE COMPANY'S
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CAPITALIZATION AS LONG-TERM DEBT DUE TO THE OTHER
CATEGORIES REQUIRED BY THIS SCHEDULE.
<F2>OTHER ITEMS CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES INCLUDES THE CURRENT LIABILITIES, DEFERRED
CREDITS AND MINORITY INTEREST, LESS CERTAIN AMOUNTS INCLUDED UNDER LONG-TERM
DEBT-CURRENT PORTION AND LEASES-CURRENT, FROM THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET.
<F3>THE COMPANY DOES NOT INCLUDE INCOME TAX EXPENSE AS AN OPERATING EXPENSE ITEM.
IT IS INCLUDED ON THE COMPANY'S STATEMENTS AS A BELOW-THE-LINE ITEM.
<F4>INCOME BEFORE INTEREST EXPENSE IS NOT A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM ON THE COMPANY'S
INCOME STATEMENTS. THE COMPANY COMBINES TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER INCOME
TO CALCULATE INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES.
</FN>