<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PACIFIC GAS
AND ELECTRIC COMPANY AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<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>                       17,414
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           4,067
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         2,560
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   1,106
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  25,147
<COMMON>                                         2,018
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        2,564
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              2,671
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   7,253
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              437
<PREFERRED>                                        402
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             6,218
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      580
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  10,257
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                   25,147
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                        9,495
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                               609
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       7,664
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       7,664
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          1,831
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 116
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   1,947
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           570
<NET-INCOME>                                       768
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         33
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                      735
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           699
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                          408
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           1,768
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0