<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FORM 10-Q FILED BY WPL HOLDINGS, INC.
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEBMER 30, 1994 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,216,123
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    135,615
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         156,380
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       243,886
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,752,004
<COMMON>                                           308
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      303,402
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            294,669
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 598,379
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     59,963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           425,304
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              56,975
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  80,091
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,516
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 529,777
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,752,005
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      609,169
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            27,072
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     199,228
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     507,545
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        101,624
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               8,231
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 109,855
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        28,319
<NET-INCOME>                                    54,464
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,483
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   51,981
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        41,938
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       29,417
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          92,601
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $1.70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1> Applicable accounting rules do not require WPL Holdings, Inc. to
report earnings per share on a fully diluted basis.
</FN>