<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Southern
Investments UK plc Form 10-K for the twelve months ended March 31, 1997, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.  Values
are in (pound) sterling.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
<CURRENCY> British Pounds Sterling
       
<S>                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                               12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                  1.6448
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                       1,235
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                       318
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            168
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                            0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  1,721
<COMMON>                                                            0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         500
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                             (114)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                    386
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                              50
<PREFERRED>                                                         0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                              301
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                 34
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                           0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                    250
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                       0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                           0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                         0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                    0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                    700
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                   1,721
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                         848
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                               32
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        723
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        723
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                           125
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                 14
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                    107
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           52
<NET-INCOME>                                                       55
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                       0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                           37
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                           0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                             59
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                       0
        




</TABLE>