<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000846930
<NAME> DQE
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> 0
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,038,731
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    416,631
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         296,370
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       655,883
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  50,806
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,458,421
<COMMON>                                       624,691<F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            716,455
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,341,146
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     71,381<F2>
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,405,895
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              11,086
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   50,328
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     36,303
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                21,828
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,520,454
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,458,421
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      300,518
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            18,131<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     229,202
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     229,202
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         71,316
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              14,823
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  68,008
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        25,703<F4>
<NET-INCOME>                                    42,305
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   42,305
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        24,835
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,451
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          84,584
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.55
<FN>
<F1>Includes (366,573) of Treasury Stock at Cost
<F2>Includes 7,773 of Preference Stock
<F3>Non-Operating Expense
<F4>Includes 1,056 of Preferred and Preference Stock Dividends
             -----