<ARTICLE>                                           UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH
31, 1999 FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  INCLUDED IN WISCONSIN  POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY'S
FORM 10-Q AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000107832
<NAME>                        WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      1,221,777
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    165,733
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         92,550
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       113,058
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 74,788
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,667,906
<COMMON>                                       66,183
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      199,438
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            305,181
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 570,802
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    59,963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           414,603
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             51,102
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      56,975
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 514,461
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  1,667,906
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      202,990
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           15,505  <F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     156,599
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     156,599 <F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        46,391
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             5,267
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 51,658
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       9,865
<NET-INCOME>                                   26,288
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    828
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  25,460
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       14,588
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      33,060
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         83,618
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0  <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0  <F2>
        
<FN>
<F1>  Income tax expense is not included in Operating Expense in the 
      Consolidated Statements of Income.
<F2>  Earnings per share of common stock is not reflected because all common 
      shares are held by Interstate Energy Corporation.
</FN>