<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 SEPTEMBER 30, 1995 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,275,998
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    148,965
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         147,791
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       252,216
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,824,970
<COMMON>                                           308
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      307,349
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            293,794
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 601,451
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     59,963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           427,108
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              56,975
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 104,817
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,766
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 568,890
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,824,970
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      609,456
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            28,024
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     196,243
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     504,419
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        105,037
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,585
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 107,622
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        29,814
<NET-INCOME>                                    49,784
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,483
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   47,301
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        44,775
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       26,164
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         117,354
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.54
<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>