<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, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,438,703
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    327,907
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         500,847
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       297,831
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,565,288
<COMMON>                                       584,844
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      (7,796)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            185,935
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 762,983
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           45,000
<PREFERRED>                                    110,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           606,916<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              94,645
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       26,456
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   20,330
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      6,943
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,779
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 890,236<F2>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,565,288
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      571,678
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,909<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     515,045
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     515,045
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         56,633
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              12,737
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  69,370<F4>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        17,229
<NET-INCOME>                                    32,232
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        824
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   31,408
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        17,348
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          57,585
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.56
<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>