<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
                                                               Exhibit 27(a)

The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 1996 and the Consolidated Statement
of Income and the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the twelve months
ended December 31, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>    0000789943
<NAME>   IES INDUSTRIES INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,358,215
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    373,396
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         178,051
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        14,771
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 201,129
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,125,562
<COMMON>                                       407,635
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            219,246
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 626,881
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     18,320
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           701,100
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              25,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 110,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    8,473
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     19,600
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                15,125
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 601,063
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,125,562
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      973,912
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            47,435<F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     809,604
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     809,604<F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        164,308
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (230)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 164,078
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        54,822
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,907<F2>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        914<F2>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   60,907
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        62,738
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       38,709
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         183,359
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Income tax expense is not included in Operating Expense in the Consolidated
Statements of Income for IES Industries Inc. (Industries).
<F2> Since the preferred dividends are for a subsidiary of Industries, they are
considered a fixed charge on Industries' Consolidated Statement of Income.
</FN>
        


</TABLE>