<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>