<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from consolidated
balance sheet, consolidated statement of income and consolidated statement of
cash flows and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001073353
<NAME> RGS ENERGY GROUP INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,477,697
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 229,885
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 732,421
<OTHER-ASSETS> 26,568
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,466,571
<COMMON> 389
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 587,603
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 174,745
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 762,737
25,000
47,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 580,117
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 44,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 233,158
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 8,189
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 766,370
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,466,571
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,010,861
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 46,080
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 848,648
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 894,728
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 116,133
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 2,470
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 118,603
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 46,872
<NET-INCOME> 71,731
2,775
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 68,956
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 47,960
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 197,052
<EPS-BASIC> 1.95
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.95
</TABLE>
