<ARTICLE> UT <CIK> 0000916863 <NAME> WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION <SUBSIDIARY> <NUMBER> 1 <NAME> WISCONSIN PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION <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> 886360 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 19194 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 196591 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 78544 <OTHER-ASSETS> 118913 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1299602 <COMMON> 23897 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 145021 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 308905 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 477823 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 51200 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 304008 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 10000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 20706 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 435865 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1299602 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 878340 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 29270 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 778251 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 778251<F1> <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 100089<F2> <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 11640 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 111729<F3> <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 26403 <NET-INCOME> 56853<F4> <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 3111 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 53742 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 45882 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 22089 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 142941 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.25 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.25 <FN> <F1>Operating expenses exclude income taxes of $29,270. <F2>Operating income is before income taxes of $29,270. <F3>Income before interest expense is before income taxes of $29,270. <F4>Net income includes deduction for minority interest of ($797). </FN>