
<TABLE> <S> <C>




<PAGE>


<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from the OGE
Energy Corp.  Consolidated  Statements of Income, Balance Sheets, and Statements
of Cash Flows as reported on Form 10-Q as of March 31, 1997 and is  qualified in
its entirety by reference to such Form 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,335,340
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     30,337
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         236,597
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       106,550
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,708,824
<COMMON>                                           465
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      511,781
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            421,518
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 933,764
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     49,329
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           804,385
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  65,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   25,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      6,802
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,122
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 820,422
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,708,824
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      291,215
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             (886)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     276,100
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     275,214
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         16,001
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 442
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  16,443
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,703
<NET-INCOME>                                     (260)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        571
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    (831)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        26,849
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       15,419
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          47,363
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.02)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.02)
        

</TABLE>
