<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000028385 <NAME> THE DETROIT EDISON COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 16 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 584 <ALLOWANCES> 20 <INVENTORY> 312 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 943 <PP&E> 15,406 <DEPRECIATION> 6,814 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,837 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,200 <BONDS> 3,512 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 48 <COMMON> 1,951 <OTHER-SE> 1,547 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 10,837 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,998 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,229 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 13 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 208 <INCOME-PRETAX> 548 <INCOME-TAX> 230 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 318 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 318 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0