
<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 September 30, 1997 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such Form 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,348,615
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     33,088
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         325,987
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       115,650
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,823,340
<COMMON>                                           404
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      511,758
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            487,311
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 999,473
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     49,266
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           841,905
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  18,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   25,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      5,428
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 2,875
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 881,393
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,823,340
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,099,030
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            69,886
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     861,826
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     931,712
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        167,318
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,327
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 171,645
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        51,301
<NET-INCOME>                                   120,344
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,714
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  118,630
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        80,517
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       47,665
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         214,707
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.94
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.94
        

</TABLE>
