<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from consolidated
balance sheet, consolidated statement of income and consolidated statement of
cash flows and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001073353
<NAME> RGS ENERGY GROUP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,543,271
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         198,601
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       670,574
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  21,460
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,433,906
<COMMON>                                           389
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      625,885
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            145,523
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 771,797
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                     47,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           480,053
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              59,840
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      240,024
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   33,936
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 776,256
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,433,906
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      881,750
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            43,992
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     733,024
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     774,812
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        106,938
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,217
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 110,951
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        41,977
<NET-INCOME>                                    68,974
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,158
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   65,816
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        49,442
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         173,882
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.79
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.79