<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DECEMBER
31, 1998 FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  INCLUDED IN WISCONSIN  POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY'S
FORM 10-K AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>      0000107832
<NAME>     WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
<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>                                   1,236,733
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                   150,702
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        106,577
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                       57,637
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                133,501
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                              1,685,150
<COMMON>                                                       66,183
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                     199,438
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                           294,309
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                559,930
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                    59,963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                          414,579
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                             76,799
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      56,975
<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>                                516,904
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                               1,685,150
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                     731,448
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                           24,670 <F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    638,798
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    638,798 <F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                        92,650
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                              4,178
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                 96,828
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       36,584
<NET-INCOME>                                                   35,574
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     3,310
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                  32,264
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       58,341
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                      33,983
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                        177,321
<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>