<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY AS OF AND FOR
THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>     0000352541
<NAME>    WPL HOLDINGS, INC.
<SUBSIDIARY>  
<NAME>    WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
<NUMBER>  1
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      1240957
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     116796
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           79392
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        224613
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1661758
<COMMON>                                         66183
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       199170
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             318432
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  583785
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      59963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            258676
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        56975
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   30388
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    55000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  616971
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  1661758
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       231005
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             15073
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       34790
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      187730
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          43275
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                2313
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   30515
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          7164
<NET-INCOME>                                     23351
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        828
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    22523
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         14896
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                         9750
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           90710
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Earnings per share of common stock is not reflected because all of such shares
are held by WPL Holdings, Inc.
</FN>