<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000846930
<NAME> DQE, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> 0
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,984,401
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    485,703
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         492,202
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       643,800
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  51,936
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,658,042
<COMMON>                                       607,290
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            763,420
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,370,710
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    222,489
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,467,050
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               9,880
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      310
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     28,787
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                23,509
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,535,307
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,658,042
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      929,305
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            72,338
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     685,713
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     685,713
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        243,592
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              48,618
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 219,872
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        81,183
<NET-INCOME>                                   138,689
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  138,689
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        74,255
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       66,531
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         291,910
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.79
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.79
<FN>
<F1>Includes (377,954) of Treasury Stock at cost
<F2>Includes 8,880 of Preference Stock
<F3>Non-Operating Expense
<F4>Includes 3,149 of Preferred and Preference Stock Dividends