<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK>0000060549
<NAME>LOUISVILLE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,752,016
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,154
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         285,027
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        66,440
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,104,637
<COMMON>                                       424,334<F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                           50<F2>
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            247,462
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 671,846
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     95,328
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           626,800
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 710,663
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,104,637
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      850,056
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            56,307
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     658,226
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     714,533
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        135,523
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (21,081)<F3>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 114,442
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        36,322
<NET-INCOME>                                    78,120
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,568
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   73,552
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        85,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       34,267
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         225,711
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Includes common stock expense of $836.
<F2>Represents unrealized gain/loss on marketable securities, net of taxes.
<F3>Includes $32,072 Merger costs to achieve.
</FN>