<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from 
PG&E CORPORATION and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements. 
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               YEAR 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   19,007,880
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,834,459
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       2,671,433
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,616,153
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              26,129,925 
<COMMON>                                     2,017,521
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    3,709,893
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,635,887
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               8,363,301
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          437,500
<PREFERRED>                                    402,056
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         7,770,067
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 680,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  209,867
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               8,266,234
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               26,129,925
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    9,609,972
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           554,994
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   7,714,387
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   7,714,387
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      1,895,585
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              54,441
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,950,026
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       639,823
<NET-INCOME>                                   755,209
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     33,113
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  722,096
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       728,727
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       2,610,876
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.75