<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>