<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WPL HOLDINGS, INC. AS OF AND FOR
THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS 
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000352541
<NAME> WPL HOLDINGS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      1248961
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     240298
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          158736
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        190461
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                    8045
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1846501
<COMMON>                                           308
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       303550
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             301810
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  605668
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      59963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            458536
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               46113
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        56975
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   54000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    10430
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  554816
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  1846501
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       682781
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             22912
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      188549
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      590367
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          92414
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                5568
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   97982
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         27800
<NET-INCOME>                                     47270
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       2483
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    44787
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         46168
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        31292
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          110187
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.46
<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>