<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, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,400,726
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    245,912
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         205,773
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       314,902
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,167,313
<COMMON>                                       584,021
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      (3,834)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            142,083
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 722,270
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          125,000
<PREFERRED>                                     50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           617,846<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              25,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       21,401
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   57,369
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      5,070
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,682
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 541,675<F2>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,167,313
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      284,046
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            24,709<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     219,986
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     219,986
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         64,060
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,813
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  70,873<F4>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,316
<NET-INCOME>                                    29,848
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,778
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   28,070
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        17,348
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          75,761
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.50
<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>