<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK>0000861388
<NAME>LG&E ENERGY CORP.
<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>                    3,229,361
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    571,097
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         782,270
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       190,540
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,773,268
<COMMON>                                       774,792<F1>
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                          167<F2>
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            466,279
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,241,238
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    136,530
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,510,775
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             365,135
<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>               1,519,590
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,773,268
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,976,413
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           111,823
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,602,899<F3>
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,714,722
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        261,691
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           (248,310)<F4>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  13,381<F4>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       102,047
<NET-INCOME>                                  (88,666)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      6,824
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                 (95,490)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       160,815
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       71,557
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         211,722
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.74)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.74)
<FN>
<F1>Includes common stock expense of $3,481.
<F2>Represents unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of taxes.
<F3>Includes equity in earnings of affiliates of $73,798.
<F4>Includes loss from discontinued operations of $23,599 and loss on disposal of
discontinued operations of $225,000, both net of income taxes. Also includes
cumulative effect of accounting change of $7,162, net of income taxes.
</FN>