<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY AS
OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS 
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      1244808
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     127917
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          117638
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        174241
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1664604
<COMMON>                                         66183
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       199170
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             320386
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  585739
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      59963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            354540
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        56975
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   81000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                     8899
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  517488
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  1664604
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       794717
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             41839
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      131398
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      655608
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         139109
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                3796
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  101066
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         29832
<NET-INCOME>                                     71234
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       3310
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    67924
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         58343
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        32778
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          148693
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Earnings per share of common stock is not reflected because all of such shares
are held by WPL Holdings, Inc.
</FN>