<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                              UT
<LEGEND>    THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
            FROM THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER
            COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS
            QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
            STATEMENTS.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                        1,000
       
<S>                                                           <C>
<CURRENCY>                                                   U.S. DOLLARS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                      12-MOS
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                         1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                     PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                       3,057,919
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                       458,009
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            540,825
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                    450,407
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  4,507,160
<COMMON>                                                          332,893
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         280,689
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                             1,125,206
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                  1,738,788
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                                        30,450
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                            1,172,746
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                 10,495
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                         173,168
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                     34,895
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                     166,205
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                               0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                        25,532
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                   17,430
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                  1,137,451
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                   4,507,160
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       1,773,820
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                              126,627
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      1,341,349
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                      1,467,976
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                           305,844
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                 11,746
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                    317,590
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          106,275
<NET-INCOME>                                                      211,315
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         1,203
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                     210,112
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                          167,889
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                         100,133
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                            461,310
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0
<FN>
Earnings per share of common stock is not applicable because all of the
company's common stock is owned by Wisconsin Energy Corporation.
See financial statements and notes in accompanying 10-K.