<ARTICLE> UT <CIK> 0001042773 <NAME> NORAM ENERGY CORP. <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,308,159 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 1,427,535 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,019,509 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 2,220,877 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,976,080 <COMMON> 1 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 2,459,576 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 81,453 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 2,541,030 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 1,226,461 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 300,000 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 230,590 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,677,999 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 5,976,080 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,759,931 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 56,353 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,618,360 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,618,360 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 141,571 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 2,556 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 144,127 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 26,900 <NET-INCOME> 60,606 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 60,606 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 26,900 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 177,438 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0