<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DECEMBER
31, 1998 FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN IES UTILITIES INC.'S FORM 10-K AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>      0000052485
<NAME>     IES UTILITIES INC.
<MULTIPLIER>     1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<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>                                     1,366,978
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                     103,333
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                          165,025
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                         15,734
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                  137,908
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                1,788,978
<COMMON>                                                         33,427
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                       279,042
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                             275,372
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                  587,841
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                      18,320
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                            602,020
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                             0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                        0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                    50,140
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                             0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      13,679
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 11,965
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                  505,013
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                 1,788,978
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       806,930
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                             41,494 <F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      651,934
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      651,934 <F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                         154,996
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                  762
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                  155,758
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         52,354
<NET-INCOME>                                                     61,910
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         914
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                    60,996
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         18,840
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                        46,542
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                          206,113
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         0 <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         0 <F2>
<FN>
<F1> Income tax expense is not included in Operating Expense in the Consolidated
Statements of Income.

<F2>Earnings  per share of common  stock is not  reflected  because  all  common
shares are held by Interstate Energy Corporation.
</FN>
                                               


</TABLE>