<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED ON FORM 10-Q
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 FOR PORTLAND GENERAL
CORPORATION (PGC) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CIK> 0000079636
<NAME> PORTLAND GENERAL CORPORATION
       
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                       3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                        MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                           1,785,310
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                           456,358
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                311,463
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                            1,067,673
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                              0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      3,620,804
<COMMON>                                                              192,788
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                             586,251
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                   237,837
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                      1,016,876
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  30,000
<PREFERRED>                                                                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                  924,720
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                          0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                   0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                         73,422
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                          71,345
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                   0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                             6,094
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                        2,653
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                      1,501,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                       3,620,804
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                             368,075
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                   39,548
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            264,477
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            304,025
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                64,050
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                     14,731
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                         78,781
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                               18,823
<NET-INCOME>                                                           59,958
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              (581)
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                          59,958
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               16,449
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                              64,469
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                136,243
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           $1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           $1.16
<FN>
<F1>Represents the 12 month-to-date figure ending December 31, 1996.
</FN>
        



</TABLE>