<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from BGE's
December 31, 1996 Interim Consolidated Income Statement, Balance Sheet and
Statement of Cash Flows and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    5,582,350
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,473,165
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         902,198
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       593,257
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,550,970
<COMMON>                                     1,429,942
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,419,065
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,857,113
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          134,500
<PREFERRED>                                    210,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,758,769
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 333,185
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  197,772
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       83,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,976,631
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                8,550,970
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,153,247
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           166,333
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,483,782
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,650,115
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        503,132
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,130
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 509,262
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       198,438
<NET-INCOME>                                   310,824
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     38,536
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  272,288
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       233,109
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      217,622
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         701,947
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.85