<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0001042773
<NAME> NORAM ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,316,141
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,429,408
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         992,018
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,240,403
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,977,970
<COMMON>                                             1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,453,162
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             79,303
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,532,466
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,213,993
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      300,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  199,860
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,731,651
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,977,970
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,142,506
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            54,863
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,980,917
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,980,917
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        161,589
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,536
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 166,125
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        52,806
<NET-INCOME>                                    58,456
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   58,456
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       52,379<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         271,883
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>TOTAL ANNUAL INTEREST CHARGES ON ALL BONDS IS AS OF YEAR-TO-DATE 6/30/98.
</FN>