<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000028385 <NAME> THE DETROIT EDISION COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 13 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 550 <ALLOWANCES> 20 <INVENTORY> 318 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 912 <PP&E> 15,307 <DEPRECIATION> 6,712 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,759 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,142 <BONDS> 3,512 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 48 <COMMON> 1,951 <OTHER-SE> 1,502 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 10,759 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,893 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,408 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 10 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 136 <INCOME-PRETAX> 339 <INCOME-TAX> 146 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 193 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 193 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0