<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WPL HOLDINGS, INC. AS OF AND
FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      1230965
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     213538
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          160014
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        239170
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                    7314
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1851001
<COMMON>                                           308
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       305891
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             307207
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  613406
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      59963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            421270
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               31795
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        56975
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   36500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                     2336
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  628756
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  1851001
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       900693
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             42024
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      303330
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      745184
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         155509
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               13092
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  168601
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         38656
<NET-INCOME>                                     87921
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       3311
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    84610
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         60416
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        38210
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          189312
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.75
<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>