<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WPL HOLDINGS, INC. AS OF AND FOR
THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,206,092
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    230,623
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         147,084
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       246,796
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   8,079
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,838,674
<COMMON>                                           308
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      305,173
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            308,147
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 613,628
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     59,963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           428,347
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              31,896
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       56,975
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  26,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,406
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 620,459
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,838,674
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      260,877
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            17,459
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      76,566
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     206,716
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         54,161
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,950
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  58,111
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,145
<NET-INCOME>                                    32,507
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        828
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   31,679
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,156
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,088
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          88,130
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.03
<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>