<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PACIFIC GAS
AND ELECTTRIC CO. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<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>                   17,701,178
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       2,190,320
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,558,976
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,005,322
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              23,455,796
<COMMON>                                     2,017,521
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,563,694
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,567,442
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               7,148,657
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          437,500
<PREFERRED>                                    402,056
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         7,046,722
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 606,708
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    9,587
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               7,804,566
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               23,455,796
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,273,978
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           137,959
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,828,734
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,828,734
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        445,244
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               9,336
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 454,580
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       144,042
<NET-INCOME>                                   172,579
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      8,278
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  164,301
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       224,341
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      102,409
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         749,637
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0