<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 SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,368,502
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    264,047
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         169,151
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       312,988
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,114,688
<COMMON>                                       583,490
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        5,291
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            136,859
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 725,640
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           65,000
<PREFERRED>                                     50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           651,816<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              31,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       29,606
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   29,779
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      5,334
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,669
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 524,844<F2>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,114,688
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      443,903
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            32,531<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     347,114
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     347,114
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         96,789
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              17,185
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 113,974<F4>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        30,566
<NET-INCOME>                                    50,877
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,407
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   46,470
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        34,695
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         106,616
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.83
<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>