DQE INC
S-4, 1997-07-30
ELECTRIC SERVICES
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       AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 30, 1997
                                              REGISTRATION NO. 333-       
     ===========================================================================
                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                       FORM S-4
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                   ----------------

                                      DQE, INC.

                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        PENNSYLVANIA                 4911                   25-1598483
      (State or other         (Primary Standard          (I.R.S. Employer
      jurisdiction of        Classification Code      Identification Number)
       incorporation)               Number)      


                       CHERRINGTON CORPORATE CENTER, SUITE 100
                               500 CHERRINGTON PARKWAY
                         CORAOPOLIS, PENNSYLVANIA 15108-3189
                                    (412) 262-4700
                 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, 
          including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                                   ---------------

               VICTOR A. ROQUE, ESQ.            J. ANTHONY TERRELL, ESQ.
        VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL         REID & PRIEST LLP
                     DQE, INC.                    40 WEST 57TH STREET
      CHERRINGTON CORPORATE CENTER, SUITE 100     NEW YORK, NEW YORK 
              500 CHERRINGTON PARKWAY                  10019-4097
        CORAOPOLIS, PENNSYLVANIA 15108-3189          (212) 603-2000
                  (412) 262-4700

              (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                     including area code, of agents for service)


        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:  From
     time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.

        If the securities  being registered on  this Form  are to  be offered in
     connection with the formation of a holding company  and there is compliance
     with General Instruction G, check the following box. [ ]


                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
     ===========================================================================

      TITLE OF EACH                                  PROPOSED
        CLASS OF                    PROPOSED          MAXIMUM
       SECURITIES     AMOUNT TO      MAXIMUM         AGGREGATE      AMOUNT OF
          TO BE          BE      OFFERING PRICE      OFFERING     REGISTRATION
       REGISTERED    REGISTERED     PER SHARE          PRICE           FEE
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Preferred
      Stock, Series A
      (Convertible),   1,000,000
      no par value . .   shares     $ 100(1)     $100,000,000(1)    $30,303
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Common Stock,
      no par value . .    (2)          --             --             None(3)
     ===========================================================================

          (1)  Estimated   solely  for  the   purpose  of  determining  the
               registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(f)(2).
          (2)  Such indeterminate number of  shares of Common Stock as  may
               be issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.
          (3)  No additional consideration will be received by the  Company
               upon  conversion  of  the  Series  A  Preferred  Stock  and,
               therefore, pursuant to Rule 457(i), no separate registration
               fee is required.


          THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON  SUCH
          DATE OR  DATES AS MAY  BE NECESSARY  TO DELAY ITS  EFFECTIVE DATE
          UNTIL  THE  REGISTRANT  SHALL  FILE  A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH
          SPECIFICALLY   STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL
          THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE  IN ACCORDANCE WITH  SECTION 8(a)  OF
          THE  SECURITIES ACT OF  1933 OR UNTIL  THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
          SHALL  BECOME  EFFECTIVE ON  SUCH  DATE  AS  THE  SECURITIES  AND
          EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING  PURSUANT TO SAID  SECTION 8(a),  MAY
          DETERMINE.

          =================================================================

     <PAGE>

          INFORMATION  CONTAINED   HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT  TO   COMPLETION  OR
          AMENDMENT.  A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES
          HAS  BEEN  FILED WITH  THE  SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION.
          THESE  SECURITIES  MAY  NOT BE  SOLD  NOR MAY  OFFERS  TO  BUY BE
          ACCEPTED  PRIOR TO  THE TIME  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT BECOMES
          EFFECTIVE.  THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL
          OR THE SOLICITATION  OF AN OFFER  TO BUY NOR  SHALL THERE BY  ANY
          SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,
          SOLICITATION OR SALE  WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR  TO REGISTRATION OR
          QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION.


                     SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 30, 1997

          PROSPECTUS
          ----------

                                      DQE, INC.

                                   1,000,000 SHARES
                       PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A (CONVERTIBLE)
                       ($100 LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE PER SHARE)

                                   ---------------

             This  Prospectus  relates  to  1,000,000  shares  of  Preferred
          Stock,  Series A (Convertible),  $100 liquidation  preference per
          share (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), which  may be offered and
          issued by DQE, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company" or
          "DQE"), from time to  time in connection with the  acquisition by
          the   Company  of   other   businesses,  assets   or   securities
          ("Acquisitions").  The Company  may, at any time after  the fifth
          anniversary of the Date of  Issuance (as hereinafter defined)  of
          any  shares of  Series A  Preferred Stock  and from time  to time
          thereafter, redeem all or  any such shares of Series A  Preferred
          Stock at a price per share equal to $100 plus an amount equal  to
          accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to  (but excluding) the date
          fixed for redemption.   In  addition, the Company  shall, on  the
          first   day  of  the  first  month  commencing  after  the  sixth
          anniversary  of the  Date of  Issuance of  any share  of Series A
          Preferred Stock, redeem such share  at the same redemption price;
          provided,  however, that the  Company will have  no obligation to
          redeem  any  share  which  is  to  be  converted  as  hereinafter
          described.  The Company's  right to redeem and its  obligation to
          redeem  shares of Series A Preferred Stock are subject to certain
          limitations described herein.   The Company may, at any  time and
          from  time  to time,  convert  all  or any  number  of  shares of
          Series A  Preferred Stock into the Company's Common Stock, no par
          value  (the  "Common  Stock"  and,  together  with  the  Series A
          Preferred Stock, the "Securities") or other Conversion Securities
          (as  hereinafter  defined).   If the  Company  shall not  have an
          obligation to redeem any share of Series A Preferred Stock on the
          date scheduled for mandatory redemption thereof, such share shall
          be converted automatically into  Common Stock or other Conversion
          Securities   on  such   date.     See  "DESCRIPTION   OF  CAPITAL
          STOCK -- Preferred Stock."

             It  is  expected  that  the  terms  of   Acquisitions  will  be
          determined by direct negotiations  with the owners or controlling
          persons of the businesses, assets or securities to be acquired by
          the  Company.  All expenses of this  offering will be paid by the
          Company.   No underwriting discounts or commissions will be paid,
          although finder's fees may be paid in cash from time to time with
          respect to specific Acquisitions.  Any person receiving such fees
          may  be deemed  to be an  underwriter within  the meaning  of the
          Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

             All of  the Securities offered  hereby, including Common  Stock
          issuable  upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, may be
          resold,  subject   to  certain   conditions,  pursuant   to  this
          Prospectus  by  the  persons   who  receive  such  Securities  in
          connection with Acquisitions  or upon conversion of  the Series A
          Preferred  Stock.   See "RESALES  OF SECURITIES"  for information
          relating to resales, pursuant to this Prospectus or otherwise, of
          Securities offered hereby.

             The  Company does  not intend  to list  the Series A  Preferred
          Stock  on any exchange or automated quotation system.  The Common
          Stock is listed on  the New York, Philadelphia and  Chicago stock
          exchanges.  As of June 30, 1997, there were  77,408,557 shares of
          Common Stock outstanding.

                                   ---------------

            THE SECURITIES TO WHICH THIS PROSPECTUS RELATES HAVE NOT BEEN
                APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS
                 THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
                  SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
                   ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION
                        TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                                   ---------------

                   The date of this Prospectus is August   , 1997.

     <PAGE>
                                AVAILABLE INFORMATION

             The Company  is subject  to the  informational requirements  of
          the  Securities Exchange Act of  1934, as amended,  and the rules
          and  regulations  thereunder   (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and,   in
          accordance therewith,  files reports  and other information  with
          the  Securities  and   Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission").
          Reports, proxy and information  statements, and other information
          filed by the  Company with  the Commission may  be inspected  and
          copied at  the public reference  facilities of the  Commission at
          Room 1024,  Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth  Street, N.W., Washington,
          D.C. 20549, and at the following Regional Offices:  7 World Trade
          Center, 13th  Floor, New York,  New York 10048;  and Northwestern
          Atrium  Center, 500  West  Madison Street,  Suite 1400,  Chicago,
          Illinois 60661.   Copies of  such material also  may be  obtained
          from  the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth
          Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,  at prescribed rates.   The
          Company's Common Stock  is listed on  the New York,  Philadelphia
          and Chicago stock exchanges, where reports, proxy and information
          statements and  other information  concerning the Company  may be
          inspected.  In addition,  the Commission maintains a site  on the
          World Wide Web at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy
          and  information  statements  and  other   information  regarding
          registrants that file electronically with the Commission.


                   INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

             The Company  incorporates herein  by reference, and  as of  any
          time  after  the  date  of  this  Prospectus  and  prior  to  the
          termination  of the  offering  made hereby  the Company  shall be
          deemed to have incorporated  by reference, (1) the Company's most
          recent Annual  Report on  Form 10-K (the "Latest  Annual Report")
          filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange
          Act,  and (2) all other documents  filed by the  Company with the
          Commission pursuant  to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or  15(d) of the
          Exchange  Act  subsequent  to the  filing  of  the  Latest Annual
          Report,  and  all  of  such  documents  shall  be  deemed  to  be
          incorporated by reference  in this  Prospectus and to  be a  part
          hereof from the  date of  filing such documents.   The  documents
          incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference are
          sometimes hereinafter  called the "Incorporated  Documents."  Any
          statement contained  in an Incorporated Document  shall be deemed
          to  be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that
          a statement herein  or in a  Prospectus Supplement or  supplement
          thereto  or  in  any  subsequently  field  Incorporated  Document
          modifies   or  supersedes  such   statement.    The  Incorporated
          Documents incorporated herein by reference as of the date of this
          Prospectus  are the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
          December 31,  1996, the  Quarterly  Report on  Form 10-Q for  the
          quarter  ended March 31,  1997,  the Current  Report on  Form 8-K
          dated  April 8, 1997,  the Joint  Proxy Statement  dated June 25,
          1997  (the "Joint Proxy  Statement"), and  the Current  Report on
          Form 8-K dated August 7, 1997.

             THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES  DOCUMETNS BY REFERENCE  WHICH ARE
          NOT PRESENTED HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH.   THESE DOCUMENTS ARE
          AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST TO DIANE EISMONT, CORPORATE
          SECRETARY, DQE, INC.,  BOX 68,  PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,  15230-
          0068.    TELEPHONE REQUESTS  MAY  BE DIRECTED  TO  DIANE EISMONT,
          CORPORATE  SECRETARY, AT  (412)  595-6080.   IN  ORDER TO  ENSURE
          TIMELY  DELIVERY OF THE  DOCUMENTS, ANY  REQUEST SHOULD  ALLOW AT
          LEAST FIVE BUSINESS DAYS FOR DELIVERY.

                                      -2-
     <PAGE>
                                       SUMMARY

             The  following summary,  which is  presented herein  solely  to
          furnish  limited introductory  information regarding  the Company
          and  the  Securities,  is  based upon  the  detailed  information
          contained  elsewhere,  or  incorporated  by  reference,  in  this
          Prospectus,  is not intended to  be complete and  is subject, and
          qualified in its  entirety by reference,  thereto.  Offerees  are
          urged  to read  carefully  the entire  Prospectus, including  the
          documents incorporated by reference.

          THE COMPANY

             DQE  is an  energy  services holding  company.    Its principal
          subsidiaries  are  Duquesne Light  Company,  an electric  utility
          company serving customers in southwestern  Pennsylvania, Duquesne
          Enterprises,  Inc. ("Duquesne Enterprises"), DQE Energy Services,
          Inc. (DQE  Energy Services"), DQEnergy  Partners, Inc. ("DQEnergy
          Partners") and Montauk, Inc. ("Montauk").

             DQE  has  entered  into  a  definitive  merger  agreement  with
          Allegheny Power  System, Inc.  ("Allegheny"), pursuant to  which,
          subject to  obtaining  required regulatory  approvals, a  wholly-
          owned subsidiary of Allegheny will merge with and into DQE.  This
          merger will result in DQE  becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary  of
          Allegheny  and  each DQE  shareholder  receiving  1.12 shares  of
          Allegheny  common stock for each share  of DQE Common Stock.  The
          combined company will  be called Allegheny Energy.   The proposed
          merger was approved  by the  respective shareholders  of DQE  and
          Allegheny at meetings held on August 7, 1997.

             The Company's  executive  offices  are located  at  Cherrington
          Corporate Center, Suite 100, 500 Cherrington Parkway, Coraopolis,
          Pennsylvania, 15108-3184.  Its telephone number is 412-262-4700.

          MARKET FOR THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK AND COMMON STOCK

             The  Company  does not  intend to  list the  Series A Preferred
          Stock for trading on any exchange or automated quotations system.
          The  Common Stock  is listed  on the  New York,  Philadelphia and
          Chicago stock exchanges under the symbol "DQE."  See "DESCRIPTION
          OF  CAPITAL  STOCK."   The following  table  sets forth,  for the
          periods indicated, the high and low sale prices  per share of the
          Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Transactions  Tape
          during the periods listed.

           Calendar Quarter                                    High     Low
           ----------------                                    ----     ---
           1995
           ----
             First Quarter   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $22 3/8  $19 5/8
             Second Quarter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   25       21 5/8
             Third Quarter   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   26 5/8   23 1/2
             Fourth Quarter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   30 3/4   26 1/2

           1996
           ----
             First Quarter   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   31 1/2   27 1/2
             Second Quarter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   28 7/8   25 3/4
             Third Quarter   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   28 3/4   27 
             Fourth Quarter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   30 3/8   27 

           1997
           ----
             First Quarter   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   29 7/8   27 3/4 
             Second Quarter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   29 3/4   26 1/2
             Third Quarter (through July 28, 1997)   . . .   31 5/16  28 1/4

             On  July 28, 1997, the  closing sale price  of the Common Stock
          as reported on the  NYSE Composite Transactions Tape was  $31 per
          share.

             OFFEREES ARE URGED  TO OBTAIN CURRENT QUOTATIONS FOR THE MARKET
          PRICES OF THE COMMON STOCK.

                                      -3-
     <PAGE>

          SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA

             The  selected historical financial  information set forth below
          should  be  read in  conjunction  with  the audited  consolidated
          financial statements  of the Company and  notes thereto contained
          in the Incorporated Documents.

             The  income statement  data for  the years  ended December  31,
          1994,  1995 and 1996, and  the balance sheet  data as of December
          31,  1995  and  1996, are  derived  from,  and  are qualified  by
          reference  to,  the   Company's  audited  consolidated  financial
          statements which  are  contained in  the Incorporated  Documents.
          The income statement data  for the years ended December  31, 1992
          and 1993 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 1992, 1993
          and  1994   are  derived  from  audited   consolidated  financial
          statements  of  the  Company  which  are  not  contained  in  the
          Incorporated Documents.

                                 THREE
                                 MONTHS         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                 ENDED   --------------------------------------
                                 MARCH
                                  31,
                                 1997    1996    1995    1994    1993    1992
                                 ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----
                                (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

     INCOME STATEMENT DATA:

        Total Revenue  . . . .   $301  $1,225  $1,220  $1,224  $1,183  $1,153

        Operating Expenses . .    226     923     898     907     870     809
                                -----   -----   -----   -----   -----   -----
        Income from Operations     75     302     322     317     313     344

        Income before
           Cumulative Effect
           of Accounting
           Changes . . . . . .     45     179     171     157     141     142

        Cumulative Effect of
           Accounting              --      --      --      --       3      -- 
           Changes(a)  . . . .  -----   -----   -----   -----   -----   -----

        Net Income . . . . . .    $45    $179    $171    $157    $144    $142

        Earnings Per Share
           before Effect
           of Accounting
           Changes . . . . . .  $0.58   $2.32   $2.20   $1.98   $1.78   $1.78

        Cumulative Effect of
           Accounting           $  --   $  --   $  --   $  --   $0.03   $  --
           Changes(a)  . . . .  -----   -----   -----   -----   -----   -----

        Earnings Per Share
           after Effect of
           Accounting Changes   $0.58   $2.32   $2.20   $1.98   $1.81   $1.78

        Dividends Declared Per
           Share of
           DQE Common Stock  .  $0.34   $1.30   $1.21   $1.13   $1.08   $1.03

     BALANCE SHEET DATA:

        Total Assets . . . . . $4,623  $4,639  $4,459  $4,427  $4,550  $3,778

        Capitalization

           Long-Term Debt  . . $1,402  $1,440  $1,401  $1,378  $1,417  $1,413

           Preferred/Preference
             Stock . . . . . .    224     223      71      95     133     132

           Common Shareholders' 1,409   1,392   1,329   1,277   1,231   1,171
             Equity  . . . . . ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------

              Total
              Capitalization . $3,035  $3,055  $2,801  $2,750  $2,781  $2,716

        Book Value Per Share of
           DQE Common Stock  . $18.22  $18.01  $17.13  $16.27  $15.47  $14.75


          NOTE TO SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA

          (a)  The 1993  amount of  $3 million ($.04 per  share) represents
               DQE's net  cumulative effect  for changes in  accounting for
               the adoption of "Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
               No. 109,  Income Taxes"  ($8.0 million)  and the  cumulative
               effect of accounting for  maintenance costs by accruing over
               the  periods  between  outages for  anticipated  expenses of
               scheduled   major   fossil    generating   station   outages
               ($5.4 million).

                                      -4-
     <PAGE>

          RATIOS  OF EARNINGS TO  COMBINED FIXED CHARGES  AND PREFERRED AND
          PREFERENCE STOCK DIVIDENDS

             The ratios  of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred
          and preference stock dividends, calculated according to the rules
          set forth under the Securities Act  of 1933, as amended, for  the
          following twelve-month periods were:

      
      
       THREE MONTHS                     TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
          ENDED                             DECEMBER 31, 
        MARCH 31,       ------------------------------------------------------
          1997          1996         1995         1994        1993       1992 
       ------------     ----         ----         ----        ----       ----
          2.63          2.69         2.73         2.57        2.29       2.24


             Earnings consist  of net income to  which has  been added taxes
          on income and fixed  charges.  Fixed charges consist  of interest
          on all indebtedness, amortization of debt expense and discount or
          premium, and the estimated interest portion of rentals charged to
          income.    The  Company's  share  of  the  fixed  charges  of  an
          unaffiliated coal  supplier, which amounted to approximately $0.7
          million  for  the three  months ended  March  31, 1997,  has been
          excluded  from  the  ratio.     Preferred  and  preference  stock
          dividends consist  of dividends paid on  preferred and preference
          stock of DQE subsidiaries.

             Earnings  related  to  income  taxes  reflect  a  $3.0  million
          decrease  for  the  three months  ended  March  31,  1997, a  $12
          million, $13.5 million, $13.5  million and $10.4 million decrease
          for the twelve  months ended  December 31, 1996,  1995, 1994  and
          1993, respectively, due  to financial statement  reclassification
          related to  Statement of Financial Accounting  Standards No. 109,
          Accounting  for Income  Taxes.   The ratio  of earnings  to fixed
          charges and preferred and preference stock dividends, absent this
          reclassification, equals  2.70 for  the three months  ended March
          31, 1997, and  2.76, 2.82, 2.65  and 2.35  for the twelve  months
          ended December 31, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.

                                      -5-
     <PAGE>

                                     THE COMPANY

             DQE is  an energy  services holding company.   DQE's  principal
          subsidiaries  are Duquesne  Light Company,  Duquesne Enterprises,
          DQE Energy Services, DQEnergy Partners and Montauk.

             Duquesne Light  Company is an electric  utility engaged in  the
          production,  transmission,  distribution  and  sale  of  electric
          energy  and is the largest of DQE's subsidiaries.  Duquesne Light
          Company  provides  electric service  to  customers  in a  service
          territory of about 800 square miles in southwestern Pennsylvania,
          comprised of  parts of  Allegheny County  (including the  City of
          Pittsburgh), and parts of  Beaver County and Westmoreland County.
          Duquesne  Light   Company  provides  service   to  about  580,000
          customers in this service  area and its revenues account  for the
          majority of DQE's revenue.   Duquesne Enterprises makes strategic
          investments  beneficial to  DQE's  core energy  business.   These
          investments  enhance DQE's  capabilities as  an  energy provider,
          increase asset utilization,  and act as a hedge  against changing
          business conditions.  DQE Energy Services is a diversified energy
          services company  offering a wide  range of energy  solutions for
          industrial, utility  and consumer markets worldwide.   DQE Energy
          Services  initiatives include  energy  facility  development  and
          operation,   domestic   and   international   independent   power
          production, and  the production  and supply of  innovative fuels.
          DQEnergy Partners was formed  in December 1996 to align  DQE with
          strategic partners to capitalize  on opportunities in the dynamic
          energy   services  industry.      These  alliances   enhance  the
          utilization  and   value  of  DQE's  strategic   investments  and
          capabilities while  establishing DQE as a  total energy provider.
          Montauk  is a  financial  services company  that makes  long-term
          investments  and  provides  financing  for  the  Company's  other
          market-driven businesses and their customers.

             DQE  has  entered  into  a  definitive  merger  agreement  with
          Allegheny,  pursuant  to  which,  subject to  obtaining  required
          regulatory approvals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allegheny will
          merge with and into DQE.  This merger will result in DQE becoming
          a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Allegheny and  each DQE shareholder
          receiving 1.12 shares of Allegheny common stock for each share of
          DQE  Common Stock.  The combined company will be called Allegheny
          Energy.   The  proposed  merger was  approved  by the  respective
          shareholders of DQE and  Allegheny at meetings held on  August 7,
          1997.  If the  Allegheny transaction is consummated prior  to the
          conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, such shares
          will thereupon  become convertible,  at the option  of DQE,  into
          shares of Allegheny  common stock.   See "DESCRIPTION OF  CAPITAL
          STOCK -- Preferred Stock -- Conversion".

             The  merger  is  conditioned,  among  other  things,  upon  the
          necessary  approvals of  various  state  and  federal  regulatory
          agencies,   including   the   public   utility   commissions   in
          Pennsylvania   and  Maryland;   the   Securities   and   Exchange
          Commission;  the Federal  Energy  Regulatory Commission  and  the
          Nuclear Regulatory  Commission.   The companies are  hopeful that
          the required approvals can be obtained by late 1998.

             Allegheny  provides  electric  service  to  nearly  1.4 million
          customers in parts of  Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
          West  Virginia, an  area  of about  29,000  square miles  with  a
          population of nearly 3 million.  Incorporated in Maryland in 1925
          with  headquarters  near  Hagerstown, Maryland,  Allegheny  is  a
          registered   public   utility   holding  company   that   derives
          substantially  all  of its  income  from  the  operations of  its
          electric  utility  subsidiaries, Monongahela  Power  Company, The
          Potomac Edison Company,  and West Penn Power  Company.  Allegheny
          has a wholly owned, nonutility subsidiary, AYP  Capital, which is
          pursuing and developing opportunities related to its core utility
          business.

                                      -6-
     <PAGE>

                                   THE ACQUISITIONS

             The Company intends to issue  the Series A Preferred Stock from
          time to time in connection with the acquisition by the Company of
          other businesses,  assets or securities ("Acquisitions").   It is
          expected  that each Acquisition  will be  structured either  as a
          merger  or  as  an acquisition  of  assets  or  securities.   The
          structure  and terms  of each  Acquisition will be  determined by
          direct negotiations with the owners or controlling persons of the
          businesses, assets or securities to be acquired by the Company in
          such Acquisition.

             The specific  terms of the shares  of Series  A Preferred Stock
          to be issued  in connection with each  Acquisition, including the
          dividend rate and mandatory redemption date, will be set forth in
          an amendment or  supplement to this  Prospectus delivered to  the
          offerees prior to  the consummation  of such Acquisition.   As  a
          general  rule, each  Acquisition and  the Company  being acquired
          will be described in  such an amendment or  supplement; provided,
          however,  that if  any  Acquisition would  itself qualify  for an
          exemption from  the registration  requirements of the  Securities
          Act, absent the  existence of other similar (prior or subsequent)
          transactions,  no information  regarding the  Acquisition or  the
          company being acquired is  expected to be furnished prior  to the
          consummation  of the  Acquisition, and  such information,  to the
          extent   deemed  material,  will  be  contained  in  Incorporated
          Documents filed after the consummation of such Acquisition.

                                RESALES OF SECURITIES

             The Securities  to be  issued in  connection with  Acquisitions
          have been registered  under the Securities Act.   Individuals who
          are not affiliates of the entity being acquired and do not become
          affiliates  of  the  Company  will  not  be  subject  to   resale
          restrictions under Rule 145  promulgated under the Securities Act
          and,  unless otherwise contractually  restricted, may  resell the
          Securities   immediately  following   the  consummation   of  the
          Acquisition.  Affiliates of the Company, or of  entities acquired
          by  the Company, may  not resell Securities  registered under the
          Registration  Statement to  which this Prospectus  relates except
          pursuant  to  an  effective  registration   statement  under  the
          Securities Act covering such shares,  or in compliance with  Rule
          145  or  another  applicable  exemption  from   the  registration
          requirements of  the Securities Act.   "Affiliates" are generally
          defined  as persons who control,  are controlled by  or are under
          common control with the acquired company.

             Generally, Rule  145 will permit  such affiliates  to sell such
          Securities  immediately following  the Acquisition  in compliance
          with certain volume limitations  and manner of sale requirements.
          Under Rule 145, sales by  such affiliates during any  three-month
          period cannot exceed the greater of (i) one percent of the shares
          of  the class of such Securities outstanding and (ii) the average
          weekly reported volume  of trading  act shares of  such class  of
          Securities on  all national securities exchanges  during the four
          calendar weeks  preceding the proposed sale.   These restrictions
          will  cease to apply in  certain circumstances one  year from the
          date  of the Acquisition, provided  that the person  or entity is
          not then an affiliate of the Company.  The  ability of affiliates
          of  entities acquired by  the Company to  resell Securities under
          Rule 145 for  two years  subsequent to such  acquisition will  be
          subject  to  the  Company   having  satisfied  its  Exchange  Act
          reporting requirements for specified periods prior to the time of
          sale.

             The  Company does  not intend  to  list the  Series A Preferred
          Stock on  any securities exchange or  automated quotation system.
          Therefore, any  resale of  Series A Preferred  Stock that  is not
          registered for  resale by affiliates of  acquired entities during
          any  period for which Rule  145 volume limitations  apply must be
          limited  to one  percent  of the  Series A  Preferred Stock  then
          outstanding or must  be made  pursuant to an  exemption from  the
          registration requirements of the Securities Act.

             This Prospectus may be used in  connection with resales of  the
          Securities  by affiliates of the  Company or of entities acquired
          by the Company.  Such persons may not use this Prospectus without
          the  consent of  the Company.   Any  information with  respect to
          selling securityholders, the Securities  being resold and plan of
          distribution with respect to such Securities will be set forth in
          an amendment or supplement to this Prospectus.

                                      -7-
     <PAGE>

                             DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

             The  Company's Restated  Articles of  Incorporation, as amended
          (the  "Articles"),   authorize  the   Company  to  issue   up  to
          182,500,000 shares of Common Stock.  The  Articles also authorize
          the Company to issue  up to 4,000,000 shares of  Preferred Stock,
          no par value (the "Preferred Stock").  As of June 30, 1997, there
          were 77,408,557  shares of  Common Stock  outstanding.   Prior to
          this  Offering, no shares of Preferred Stock had ever been issued
          or were outstanding.

          PREFERRED STOCK

             GENERAL

             The Board of  Directors is authorized  to divide  the Preferred
          Stock  into series  and,  as to  each  series, to  determine  the
          designation  and number of shares  of such series  and the voting
          rights, preferences,  limitations and special rights,  if any, of
          the shares  of such  series.  Such  divisions and  determinations
          shall be  set forth  in one or  more amendments  to the  Articles
          adopted by the Board of Directors.

             The  Board  of  Directors  has  established  a  series  of  the
          Preferred  Stock  consisting   of  1,000,000  shares,  designated
          "Preferred  Stock,  Series   A  (Convertible)"  (the   "Series  A
          Preferred  Stock")  and  having  the voting  rights  preferences,
          limitations  and special rights set  forth below.   Shares of the
          Series A  Preferred Stock  will be  issued from  time to  time in
          connection  with Acquisitions.  All  shares of Series A Preferred
          Stock  will be identical except for the date of issuance thereof,
          the dividend rate thereon and the date, if any, for the mandatory
          redemption thereof.

             DIVIDENDS

             General.  When, as  and if declared  by the Board of  Directors
          and  subject to the  rights of the  holders of any  shares of any
          series  of Preferred Stock or  other stock ranking  senior to the
          Series A Preferred  Stock with respect to  dividends, the Company
          will pay, out of funds  legally available therefor, dividends  in
          cash to  the  holders of  shares  of Series  A  Preferred at  the
          respective  rates thereon.  The  dividend rates on  each share of
          Series A Preferred  Stock will  be set forth  in a supplement  to
          this Prospectus relating to such share.

             Dividends  on shares of  the Series  A Preferred  Stock will be
          payable, subject to  the terms  and conditions set  forth in  the
          Articles, on each Dividend Payment Date (as hereinafter defined),
          beginning  on  the  first  Dividend Payment  Date  following  the
          respective  Dates of  Issuance (as  hereinafter defined)  of such
          shares, to the registered holders of such shares as  of the close
          of  business on  the Record  Date (as  hereinafter defined)  with
          respect to  such Dividend Payment Date;  provided, however, that,
          if the  Date of Issuance of  a share of Series  A Preferred Stock
          shall be  after  a  Record  Date  and  before  the  corresponding
          Dividend  Payment Date, the first  payment of a  dividend on such
          share will be made  on the next succeeding Dividend  Payment Date
          to the holder in whose name such share is registered at the close
          of  business on  the  Record  Date  with  respect  to  such  next
          succeeding Dividend Payment Date.

             Accrual of Dividends, etc.  Dividends  will begin to accrue  on
          shares of the Series A Preferred  Stock from the Date or Dates of
          Issuance thereof.  Dividends will accrue on a daily basis whether
          or  not  at the  time the  Corporation  shall have  funds legally
          available for distributions  to shareholders.  Accrued  dividends
          for any period less than a full annual period will be computed on
          the  basis of a  year deemed to  consist of (A) 360  days and (B)
          twelve calendar  months each,  itself, deemed  to  consist of  30
          days;  provided, however,  that, if  any part  of the  period for
          which accrued dividends  are being  computed shall  consist of  a
          portion of a calendar  month, accrued dividends for such  part of
          such period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of
          days elapsed during  such calendar month  (excluding the date  of
          payment, if  any, in such calendar month) in relation to the full
          annual  dividend accrued during  a deemed 360-day  year.  Accrued
          but unpaid  dividends will accumulate as of  the Dividend Payment
          Date  on which they first  become payable, but  no interest shall
          accrue on accumulated but unpaid dividends.

                                      -8-
     <PAGE>

             Parity Stock.  So  long as any Series  A Preferred Stock  shall
          be outstanding,  if (A) at  any time  the Company shall  not have
          satisfied in full  the cumulative dividends accrued on the Series
          A  Preferred  Stock  for  all Dividend  Periods  (as  hereinafter
          defined) ended  at or prior  to such  time and (B)  at such  time
          there shall have  accrued and shall  remain unpaid, for  Dividend
          Periods ended at or  prior to such time,  dividends on shares  of
          any other  series of the  Preferred Stock  or any other  class of
          stock in either case ranking as to dividends on a parity with the
          Series A  Preferred Stock, any  funds of the  Corporation legally
          available  for the purpose will be allocated among all cumulative
          dividends  accrued and unpaid, for  all Dividend Periods ended at
          or prior to such time, on all such parity series of the Preferred
          Stock and such other parity stock in proportion to the respective
          amounts thereof.

             Junior  Securities.  So  long as  any Series  A Preferred Stock
          shall be outstanding, the Company will not (A)  declare or pay or
          set   apart  for  payment   any  dividends  or   make  any  other
          distributions  on any Junior  Securities (as hereinafter defined)
          or (B) make any payment on account of the redemption, purchase or
          other acquisition or retirement of any Junior Securities, unless,
          as of the date of any such declaration, setting aside or payment,
          as the case may be, there  shall also have been declared and paid
          or  set aside for payment  dividends accumulated on  the Series A
          Preferred  Stock during all Dividend Periods ended on or prior to
          such date; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction will
          not  prohibit (X) any dividend payable solely in shares of Junior
          Securities or (Y) the acquisition of any Junior Securities either
          (i) pursuant  to any  employee or  director incentive  or benefit
          plan or  arrangement  (including  any  employment,  severance  or
          consulting agreement), or  any dividend or interest  reinvestment
          or stock  purchase plan, of the  Company or any affiliate  of the
          Company  heretofore  or hereafter  adopted  or  (ii) in  exchange
          solely for  any other  Junior Securities; and  provided, further,
          that  nothing  in  the  Articles will  prevent  the  simultaneous
          declaration  or  payment  of  dividends  on  both  the  Series  A
          Preferred Stock and any Junior Securities if, at the time of such
          declaration, there are sufficient  funds legally available to pay
          all dividends concurrently.

             LIQUIDATION.

             General.  Subject to  the rights of the holders of any stock of
          the Company  ranking senior to or  on a parity with  the Series A
          Preferred Stock in respect of distributions upon the liquidation,
          dissolution  or  winding   up  of  the  Company,  upon  any  such
          liquidation, dissolution  or  winding up  (whether  voluntary  or
          involuntary),  each holder of  Series A  Preferred Stock  will be
          entitled  to be  paid, out  of the  assets of  the Company  which
          remain  after the payment and discharge of all liabilities of the
          Company,  before any  distribution or  payment is  made upon  any
          Junior  Securities,  an amount  in  cash equal  to  the aggregate
          Liquidation  Value  (as hereinafter  defined)  of  the shares  of
          Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder plus an amount equal
          to accrued and  unpaid dividends thereon  to (but excluding)  the
          date of payment, and the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will
          not  be  entitled  to any  further  payment.  If,  upon any  such
          liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up of  the  Company,  the
          Company's assets available to be distributed among the holders of
          the  Series A  Preferred  Stock  and  any  other  series  of  the
          Preferred  Stock and any other stock of the corporation in either
          case ranking as  to any such  distribution on a  parity with  the
          Series  A Preferred Stock  are insufficient to  permit payment to
          such holders of the  aggregate amount which they are  entitled to
          be  paid, then the entire  assets available to  be distributed to
          the   Company's   shareholders  will   be  allocated   among  all
          liquidation requirements  on all such parity  series of Preferred
          Stock and such other parity stock in proportion to the respective
          amounts then required for the satisfaction thereof.

             Neither the consolidation,  merger or other combination of  the
          Company with or into any other entity or entities (whether or not
          the Company is the  surviving entity), nor the sale,  transfer or
          other  disposition by  the Company  of  all or  any  part of  its
          assets, nor the reduction of the capital stock of the Company nor
          any other  form of  recapitalization or  reorganization affecting
          the  Company will be deemed  to be a  liquidation, dissolution or
          winding up of  the Company  within the meaning  of the  preceding
          paragraph.

             REDEMPTION

             Mandatory Redemption.  The Company will, on the Scheduled  Call
          Date  (as  hereinafter  defined)  for  each  share  of  Series  A
          Preferred Stock, redeem  such share at a price per share equal to
          the Liquidation Value thereof plus an amount equal to accrued and
          unpaid dividends  thereon to (but  excluding) the date  fixed for

                                      -9-
     <PAGE>

          redemption;  provided,  however, that  the  Company  will not  be
          obligated to redeem any  share of Series A Preferred  Stock which
          is  to be  converted into  Conversion Securities  (as hereinafter
          defined) on or prior to the Scheduled Call Date (see "Conversion"
          below).   The  Scheduled Call  Date for  each share  of Series  A
          Preferred  Stock  will  be set  forth  in  a  supplement to  this
          Prospectus relating to such share.

             Optional  Redemption. The  Company may,  at any  time and  from
          time to  time, redeem  all or  any number  of shares  of Series A
          Preferred  Stock then outstanding at  a price per  share equal to
          the Liquidation Value thereof plus an amount equal to accrued and
          unpaid dividends thereon  to (but excluding)  the date fixed  for
          redemption.   If less than all  of the outstanding  shares of the
          Series A Preferred  Stock are  to be redeemed,  the Company  will
          select  the shares to be redeemed based on their respective Dates
          of Issuance; and, if less  than all of the outstanding shares  of
          the Series A Preferred Stock having the same Date of Issuance are
          to be redeemed, the Company will select the shares to be redeemed
          pro rata, by lot or by any other method as shall be determined by
          the Company to be equitable.

             Notice of Redemption.  Unless otherwise required by  applicable
          law, notice of mandatory  or optional redemption will be  sent to
          the  holders of  the shares  of Series  A  Preferred Stock  to be
          redeemed at the addresses  shown on the books  of the Company  by
          first class  mail, postage prepaid,  mailed not less  than thirty
          (30) days nor more than  sixty (60) days prior to the  redemption
          date.

             With respect to any notice of redemption of  shares of Series A
          Preferred  Stock at the option  of the Company,  unless, upon the
          giving of such notice,  such shares shall be deemed to  have been
          redeemed and to be no longer outstanding by reason of the deposit
          with  a  redemption  agent of  funds  sufficient  to  effect such
          redemption in accordance  with and subject to  the Articles, such
          notice may state that  such redemption shall be  conditional upon
          the setting aside by the Company or the  delivery to a redemption
          agent,  on or  prior to the  date fixed  for such  redemption, of
          legally available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of
          such shares,  and that if such  funds shall not have  been so set
          aside or delivered such notice shall be of no force or effect and
          the Company shall not  be required to redeem such shares.  In the
          event that  such notice of  redemption contains such  a condition
          and such funds are not so set aside or delivered, the  redemption
          shall  not be made and within a reasonable time thereafter notice
          shall be given that such funds were not so set aside or delivered
          and such redemption was not required to be made.

             Parity Stock.   If (A) at any time  the Company shall not  have
          satisfied  in full its mandatory redemption obligations described
          above  and (B)  at such  time the  Company shall be  obligated to
          redeem,  purchase or  otherwise acquire  or retire shares  of any
          other series of  Preferred Stock or any  other class of stock  in
          either  case  ranking  as   to  distributions  upon  liquidation,
          dissolution or winding up on a parity with the Series A Preferred
          Stock, any funds of the Company legally available for the purpose
          shall  be allocated among all such obligations on all such parity
          series  of  Preferred  Stock  and  such  other  parity  stock  in
          proportion to the respective amounts thereof.

             Junior Securities.  If at any  time the Company shall  not have
          satisfied in full its mandatory redemption obligations  described
          above, the Company shall not (A) declare or pay or  set apart for
          payment  any dividends  or  make any  other distributions  on any
          Junior  Securities  or (B)  make any  payment  on account  of the
          redemption, purchase  or other  acquisition or retirement  of any
          Junior   Securities;  provided,   however,  that   the  foregoing
          restriction shall not prohibit (X) any dividend payable solely in
          shares of  Junior Securities  or  (Y) the  acquisition of  Junior
          Securities  either  (i)  pursuant  to any  employee  or  director
          incentive   or  benefit   plan  or  arrangement   (including  any
          employment, severance or  consulting agreement), or any  dividend
          or  interest reinvestment or stock purchase  plan, of the Company
          or any affiliate  of the Company heretofore or  hereafter adopted
          or (ii) in exchange solely for any other Junior Securities.

             Limitation.  Anything  herein to the contrary  notwithstanding,
          the Company will not have at any time any right to redeem, or any
          obligation to redeem, any  share of Series A Preferred  Stock if,
          by virtue of the Company having  such right or obligation at such
          time, such share of Series A Preferred Stock, effective as of its
          Date of  Issuance, would not  constitute "stock" for  purposes of
          any of  Sections 351,  354, 355,  356  and 1036  of the  Internal
          Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof (the "Code"),
          or any successor provisions thereto.

                                      -10-
     <PAGE>

             CONVERSION

             General.  The Company may, at any time  and from time to  time,
          convert all  or any number  of shares  of the Series  A Preferred
          Stock  into Conversion  Securities.   If  less  than all  of  the
          outstanding  shares of  the Series  A Preferred  Stock are  to be
          converted, the  Company will  select the  shares to be  converted
          based  on their respective Dates  of Issuance; and,  if less than
          all of the  outstanding shares  of the Series  A Preferred  Stock
          having the same Date of Issuance are to be converted, the Company
          will select the shares to be converted pro rata, by lot or by any
          other method determined  by the  Company to be  equitable.   Each
          share of  Series A  Preferred Stock  to be so  converted will  be
          converted  into  a  number  of  units  of  Conversion  Securities
          computed by  dividing the  Liquidation Value by  the Fair  Market
          Value (as hereinafter defined) for the Conversion Securities, all
          as of the close of business on the trading day next preceding the
          date fixed for conversion. If  the Conversion Securities are  not
          securities  of the Company, prior to the conversion of any shares
          of Series  A Preferred Stock, the Company will acquire sufficient
          Conversion Securities to effectuate  the conversion.  The Company
          will  make  a  cash  payment  in lieu  of  delivering  fractional
          securities upon any conversion, such payment to be based upon the
          Fair  Market   Value  of  any  fractional   securities  otherwise
          deliverable  as of the close of business  on the trading day next
          preceding the date fixed for conversion.

             Notice of Conversion.  Unless otherwise required by  applicable
          law, notice of conversion pursuant to this subsection (d) will be
          sent to the holders of  shares of Series A Preferred Stock  to be
          converted at the  addresses shown on the books of  the Company by
          first class  mail, postage prepaid,  mailed not less  than thirty
          (30)  days nor more than sixty  (60) days prior to the conversion
          date.

             Conversion  Procedure.    Upon the  surrender  by  a holder  of
          converted  shares of  Series  A Preferred  Stock of  certificates
          representing  such  shares  in  accordance  with  the  notice  of
          conversion  on or  after the  conversion date,  the Company  will
          deliver to or upon the order of such holder:

               (A)  whole units  of  the Conversion  Securities into  which
             such shares of Series  A Preferred Stock  have been  converted,
             certificates representing securities  to be registered  in such
             name or names, and to  be issued in such denominations, as such
             holder shall have specified;

               (B)  in lieu  of fractional  units of Conversion  Securities
             resulting  from  the conversion  of  such  Series  A  Preferred
             Stock,  an amount equivalent  to the  Fair Market  Value of any
             such fractional units of Conversion  Securities as of the close
             of business on the  trading day next  preceding the  conversion
             date;

               (C)  an amount equivalent to accrued and unpaid dividends on
             such shares of Series A Preferred  Stock to (but excluding) the
             conversion date; and 

               (D)  a  certificate  representing  any  shares of  Series  A
             Preferred Stock which  had been represented by the  certificate
             or certificates  delivered to  the Company  in connection  with
             such conversion but which were not converted.

             Miscellaneous.    The  delivery  of  certificates  representing
          Conversion  Securities  upon conversion  of  shares  of Series  A
          Preferred  Stock shall be made  without charge to  the holders of
          such shares for any  tax or other governmental charge  in respect
          thereof  or other cost incurred by the Company in connection with
          such conversion, except that the Company shall not be required to
          pay any such tax or charge payable by  reason of the registration
          of Conversion Securities  in a name  other than the  name of  the
          holder  of the shares of  Series A Preferred  Stock which were so
          converted.

             Anything  herein  to  the  contrary notwithstanding,  upon  the
          conversion of shares  of Series  A Preferred  Stock, the  Company
          shall have the  right to elect to deliver,  or cause the delivery
          of,  either (i)  authorized  but  unissued Conversion  Securities
          reserved  for  such purpose  or  (ii)  authorized but  previously
          issued Conversion Securities.

                                      -11-
     <PAGE>

             Mandatory  Conversion.     Anything  herein   to  the  contrary
          notwithstanding, if, as described under "Conversion -- Limitation"
          above,  the Company  does not  have an  obligation to  redeem any
          share of Series A Preferred Stock on the Scheduled Call Date with
          respect to such share, such share of Series A Preferred Stock, to
          the extent that such share has not been converted into Conversion
          Securities  prior to such Scheduled  Call Date, will be converted
          automatically  into Conversion Securities  on such Scheduled Call
          Date.

             DEFINITIONS

             "Common Stock"  means the Company's  common stock, without  par
          value.

             "Conversion Securities"  means,  initially,  shares  of  Common
          Stock; provided,  however, that if  there shall have  occurred an
          Organic Change, then the  term "Conversion Securities" shall mean
          the  class or  type of  stock, securities,  cash or  other assets
          (payable  in kind) to which the holders  of Common Stock or other
          Conversion  Securities  outstanding  immediately  prior   to  the
          effective  time  of the  Organic Change  are entitled  to receive
          (either directly or upon  subsequent liquidation) with respect to
          or  in  exchange  for  Common  Stock  or  such  other  Conversion
          Securities  as  a result  of  the Organic  Change;  and provided,
          further, that if, by virtue of the structure of such transaction,
          a  holder  of Common  Stock or  other  Conversion Securities   is
          required to make an election with respect to the nature and  kind
          of  consideration  to  be  received  in  such  transaction,  then
          Conversion Securities  shall mean the stock,  securities, cash or
          other assets (payable in kind) receivable  in such transaction by
          a holder  of  the number  of  shares  of Common  Stock  or  other
          Conversion  Securities into  which shares  of Series  A Preferred
          Stock  could  have  been   converted  immediately  prior  to  the
          effective time of such transaction if such holder of Common Stock
          or other Conversion Securities failed  to exercise any rights  of
          election as to the  kind or amount of stock, securities,  cash or
          other   assets  receivable   upon  such  transaction   (it  being
          understood that, if the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash
          or  other assets receivable upon such transaction is not the same
          for each non-electing share,  then the kind and amount  of stock,
          securities,  cash   or  other   property  receivable   upon  such
          transaction for  each non-electing  share shall  be the kind  and
          amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing
          shares).

             "Date  of Issuance,"  as to  any  share  of Series  A Preferred
          Stock,  means the date on which the Company initially issues such
          share, irrespective  of the  subsequent delivery  of certificates
          for such share upon registration of transfer or exchange.

             "Dividend Payment Date," as  to the Series  A Preferred  Stock,
          means January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.

             "Dividend Period," as to the shares  of the Series A  Preferred
          Stock or any other series of  the Preferred Stock or of any other
          class of stock in either case ranking as to dividends on a parity
          with the Series A Preferred Stock, means the period commencing on
          any  dividend payment date prescribed for  such series and ending
          on  the day next  preceding the next  succeeding dividend payment
          date for such series, except that the initial Dividend Period for
          any particular  shares of any series or class shall be the period
          commencing  on the  date or  dates from  which dividends  on such
          shares shall be cumulative  and ending on the day  next preceding
          the first dividend payment date prescribed for such shares.

             "Fair Market Value,"  as to  publicly traded  shares of Common
          Stock or any  other class of capital  stock or securities  of the
          Company or  any other issuer which  are publicly traded, as  of a
          particular  day, means the average Market Price of such shares or
          securities over a period of  five consecutive trading days ending
          on  (and  including) the  trading day  as  of which  "Fair Market
          Value"  is  being determined.   "Fair  Market  Value", as  to any
          security which is not  publicly traded or of any  other property,
          as  of  a  particular  day,  means  the  fair  value  thereof  as
          determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm
          experienced  in  the valuation  of  such  securities or  property
          selected in  good faith by the Board of Directors, or, if no such
          investment  banking  or appraisal  firm  is  in  the  good  faith
          judgment  of  the  Board  of Directors  available  to  make  such
          determination,  as determined  in  good  faith  by the  Board  of
          Directors.

             "Junior  Securities"  means  the  Common  Stock  and  (1)   for
          purposes of clause (A) in the paragraph "Junior Securities" under
          each  of "Dividends" and  "Redemption" above, any  other class or

                                      -12-
     <PAGE>

          series of stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock in
          right of payment  of dividends or (2) for all other purposes, any
          other class  or series of  stock ranking  junior to the  Series A
          Preferred Stock in right of payment of amounts distributable upon
          liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

             "Liquidation  Value,"  as to  any share  of Series  A Preferred
          Stock, means the amount of $100.

             "Market Price," as to  publicly traded shares  of Common  Stock
          or  any other  class of capital  stock or  other security  of the
          Company  or any other issuer  which are publicly  traded, as of a
          particular day, means the last reported sales price, regular way,
          or,  if no  sale takes  place  on such  day, the  average of  the
          reported closing  bid and  asked prices,  regular way,  in either
          case  as  reported  on the  Composite  Tape  for  New York  Stock
          Exchange  Transactions or,  if  such security  is  not listed  or
          admitted  to trading  on  the New  York  Stock Exchange,  on  the
          principal national securities exchange  on which such security is
          listed or  admitted to trading or,  if not listed or  admitted to
          trading  on any  national  securities exchange,  on the  National
          Market System of the  National Association of Securities Dealers,
          Inc.  Automated Quotation  System  or, if  such  security is  not
          quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing
          bid and asked prices  on such day in the  over-the-counter market
          as  reported  by NASDAQ  or,  if bid  and asked  prices  for such
          security on such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ,
          the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished
          by any New  York Stock  Exchange member firm  regularly making  a
          market in such security selected for such purpose by the Board of
          Directors.

             "Organic  Change"  means any  recapitalization, reorganization,
          reclassification,   consolidation,   merger,  sale   of   all  or
          substantially all of the Company's assets or similar transaction,
          in each  case which is effected in such a manner that the holders
          of  Common Stock are entitled to receive (either directly or upon
          subsequent liquidation)  stock, securities, cash  or other assets
          with  respect  to  or   in  exchange  for  Common  Stock.     The
          transactions contemplated  by the  Agreement and Plan  of Merger,
          dated as of  April 5,  1997, among the  Company, Allegheny  Power
          System, Inc. and AYP Sub,  Inc., if consummated, would constitute
          an  Organic  Change,  and,  giving  effect   thereto,  Conversion
          Securities would be shares  of common stock, par value  $1.25 per
          share,  of Allegheny Power System,  Inc.  Anything  herein to the
          contrary  notwithstanding,  if  the  Company  shall  not  be  the
          surviving or  resulting person following any  Organic Change, the
          Series A Preferred Stock  shall by virtue of such  Organic Change
          be  exchanged for,  or changed,  reclassified or  converted into,
          preferred stock of such  successor or resulting person having  in
          respect  of  such  person,   insofar  as  practicable,  the  same
          preferences, limitations, voting  rights and special  rights that
          the Series  A  Preferred  Stock  had immediately  prior  to  such
          Organic  Change except for the  change in the  type of Conversion
          Securities  into  which  such  preferred  stock   is  convertible
          effected as a result of such Organic Change.

             "Record  Date," as  to  any  Dividend Payment  Date, means  the
          fifteenth day  of the calendar month next preceding such Dividend
          Payment Date.

             "Scheduled Call Date," as to any  share of  Series A Preferred
          Stock,  means the first day  of the first  month commencing after
          the sixth anniversary of the Date of Issuance of such share.

             RANKING; PRO RATA SHARING; RETIREMENT

             Ranking.  The Series A Preferred Stock will rank senior to  the
          Common  Stock  as to  the  payment  of dividends  and  as  to the
          distribution of assets on  liquidation, dissolution or winding-up
          of  the Company, and, unless otherwise  provided in the Articles,
          the Series A Preferred Stock will rank on a parity with all other
          series  of Preferred Stock as to the  payment of dividends and as
          to  the distribution  of  assets on  liquidation, dissolution  or
          winding-up.

             Pro Rata Sharing.  Except to  the extent otherwise provided  in
          the Articles, all payments to be made in respect of the shares of
          Series A Preferred Stock and any  other stock ranking on a parity
          with the Series  A Preferred  Stock with respect  to payments  of
          such character  will be made  pro rata, so that  amounts paid per
          share on the  Series A Preferred Stock and  such other stock will
          in all cases  bear to each other the same  ratio that the amounts
          then payable per share  on the shares of  the Series A  Preferred
          Stock and such other stock bear to each other.

                                      -13-
     <PAGE>

             Retirement.   Any shares of Series  A Preferred Stock  redeemed
          or  converted as  provided hereby  will be  retired as  shares of
          Series  A  Preferred  Stock and  be  restored  to  the status  of
          authorized  but unissued shares  of Preferred Stock, undesignated
          as  to series,  and may  thereafter be  reissued as  permitted by
          applicable law.

             VOTING RIGHTS

             General.   The  holders of  Series  A  Preferred Stock  will be
          entitled to  vote  on all  matters  submitted to  a vote  of  the
          holders  of Common  Stock,  voting together  with the  holders of
          Common Stock as one class. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock
          will be entitled three votes, subject to certain adjustments.

             No  Special  Rights.     Except   to  the   extent   otherwise
          specifically  provided by  applicable  law or  set  forth in  the
          preceding paragraph,   holders of  Series A Preferred  Stock will
          have  no special  voting rights  and their  consent shall  not be
          required for the taking of any corporate action.

             Under  Pennsylvania law,  the  holders of  shares  of  Series A
          Preferred Stock will  be entitled to vote as a class with respect
          to  any amendment  to the  Articles which  would authorize  a new
          series  of Preferred  Stock or  another class  of stock  having a
          preference  as  to dividends  or assets  which  is senior  to the
          shares  of  Series  A  Preferred Stock,  or  would  authorize  an
          increase in the number of authorized shares of any such series or
          class; and no such  amendment may be adopted unless,  among other
          things, it receives  the affirmative  vote of a  majority of  the
          votes cast in such  class vote.  In addition,  under Pennsylvania
          law,  the holders of shares  of Series A Preferred  Stock will be
          entitled  to similar voting rights,  as a class,  with respect to
          any  merger or consolidation which would effect any change in the
          Articles if such holders would have been entitled to a class vote
          with  respect to such change if such change had been accomplished
          as  an amendment  to  the  Articles  rather  than  by  merger  or
          consolidation.

             CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

             The following discussion sets forth the material United  States
          federal  income  tax  consequences  under  existing  law  of  the
          ownership  and disposition  of the  shares of Series  A Preferred
          Stock.   Changes to  existing law,  which could  have retroactive
          effect,  may  alter  the  consequences  described  below.    This
          discussion relates  only to shares  of Series  A Preferred  Stock
          that are held  as capital  assets within the  meaning of  Section
          1221  of the Code,  and does not  deal with all  tax consequences
          that  may be  relevant in  the particular  circumstances of  each
          holder (some of which, such  as dealers in securities,  insurance
          companies, tax-exempt  organizations and foreign  persons, may be
          subject  to  special  rules).   Except  as  otherwise  indicated,
          statements  of  legal conclusions  regarding  federal income  tax
          consequences in this section reflect the opinion of Reid & Priest
          LLP, counsel to  the Company.  These conclusions are based on the
          Code,   regulations  promulgated  thereunder,   and  the  current
          judicial and administrative interpretations thereof.  The Company
          has not and will not seek a ruling as to any tax matters relating
          to the shares of  Series A Preferred Stock.   PERSONS CONSIDERING
          ANY  TRANSACTION PURSUANT  TO WHICH THEY  WILL RECEIVE  SHARES OF
          SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK  SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS  WITH
          RESPECT TO  THE APPLICATION OF  THE UNITED STATES  FEDERAL INCOME
          TAX  LAWS TO  THEIR  PARTICULAR SITUATIONS  AS  WELL AS  ANY  TAX
          CONSEQUENCES ARISING  UNDER  THE  LAWS  OF ANY  STATE,  LOCAL  OR
          FOREIGN TAXING JURISDICTION.

             Classification of Series A Preferred Stock.   The  Series  A
          Preferred Stock should be treated as stock for federal income tax
          purposes.   The remainder  of  this discussion  assumes that  the
          Series A Preferred Stock  will be respected as stock  for federal
          income tax purposes.

             Dividends.  Dividends paid on the  shares of Series A Preferred
          Stock  out of the  Company's current or  accumulated earnings and
          profits  (as determined for federal  income tax purposes) will be
          taxable as  ordinary income.    To the extent that  the amount of
          distributions  paid on the  Series A Preferred  Stock exceeds the
          Company's  current  or  accumulated   earnings  and  profits  (as
          determined  for federal  income tax purposes),  the distributions
          will  be  treated  as a  return  of  capital,  thus reducing  the
          holder's  adjusted tax  basis in such  stock.  The  amount of any
          distribution  which exceeds  the holder's  adjusted basis  in the
          Series A Preferred Stock will be  taxed as capital gain, and will
          be long-term capital gain if the holder's holding period for such
          stock exceeds one year.   The Company expects to  have sufficient

                                      -14-
     <PAGE>

          earnings  and  profits  (as  determined for  federal  income  tax
          purposes) to cause distributions on the Series A Preferred  Stock
          to be treated as dividends for federal income tax purposes.

             To  the extent  that dividends are treated  as ordinary income,
          dividends  received by corporate holders will  qualify for the 70
          percent  intercorporate  dividends-received deduction  subject to
          the minimum holding period (generally at least 46 days) and other
          applicable   requirements.     Under  certain   circumstances,  a
          corporate  holder may be  subject to the  alternative minimum tax
          with respect to the amount of its dividends-received deduction.

             Under  certain circumstances,  a  corporation that  receives an
          "extraordinary dividend,"  as defined  in Section 1059(c)  of the
          Code,  is required  to reduce  its stock  basis by  the non-taxed
          portion  of such dividend.  Generally, quarterly dividends not in
          arrears paid  to an  original holder of  the shares  of Series  A
          Preferred Stock will not constitute extraordinary dividends under
          Section 1059(c). In addition, under Section 1059(f), any dividend
          with respect  to "disqualified preferred stock" is  treated as an
          "extraordinary dividend."  However,  while the issue is not  free
          from doubt due  to the lack  of authority directly on  point, the
          shares  of   Series  A   Preferred  Stock  will   not  constitute
          "disqualified preferred stock."

             Redemption  Premium.    Under  certain  circumstances,  Section
          305(c) of the  Code requires  that any excess  of the  redemption
          price  of preferred stock over  its issue price  be includable in
          income,  prior to receipt, as a constructive dividend.  While the
          issue  is  not  free from  doubt  due  to  a  lack  of  authority
          addressing the  issue, Section 305(c) should  not currently apply
          to  stock with  terms such  as those  of the  shares of  Series A
          Preferred Stock.

             Conversion into Common Stock.  Gain  or loss generally will not
          be recognized by a holder upon the conversion of shares of Series
          A  Preferred  Stock into  shares of  Common Stock  if no  cash is
          received.   Income may be recognized, however, to the extent cash
          is  received in  payment  of  accrued  and  unpaid  dividends  in
          arrears.  Such income would probably be characterized as dividend
          income, although  some uncertainty  exists as to  the appropriate
          characterization  of  payments   in  satisfaction  of  undeclared
          accrued and unpaid dividends.  In addition, a holder who receives
          cash  in lieu  of a  fractional share will  be treated  as having
          received such fractional  share and having exchanged  it for cash
          in a transaction  subject to Section 302 of the  Code and related
          provisions.   Such  exchange should  generally result  in capital
          gain or loss measured by the difference between the cash received
          for the fractional share  interest and the holder's basis  in the
          fractional share interest.

             Generally, a holder's basis in  the Common Stock  received upon
          the conversion of the  shares of Series A Preferred  Stock (other
          than  shares of Common Stock  taxed upon receipt)  will equal the
          adjusted  tax basis of the converted shares of Series A Preferred
          Stock plus the  amount of  gain recognized, minus  the amount  of
          cash received, and the  holding period of such Common  Stock will
          include the holding period of the redeemed or converted shares of
          Series A Preferred Stock.

             Backup  Withholding.   Certain  non-corporate  holders  may  be
          subject  to backup  withholding  at  a  rate  of  31  percent  on
          dividends and certain consideration received  upon the redemption
          or  conversion  of  the  shares  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock.
          Generally, backup  withholding  applies only  when  the  taxpayer
          fails to  furnish or  certify a property  Taxpayer Identification
          Number or when the  taxpayer is notified by the  Internal Revenue
          Service  that  the  taxpayer has  failed  to  report payments  of
          interest and  dividends properly.   Holders should  consult their
          tax  advisors  regarding their  qualification for  exemption from
          backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining any applicable
          exemption.

          COMMON STOCK

             GENERAL

             Except  for the  rights  of holders  of the  Series A Preferred
          Stock  and such rights  as may be  granted to the  holders of any
          other  series of  Preferred Stock  in the  amendment establishing
          such series  or as required by  law, all of the  voting and other
          rights of the shareholders of  the Company belong exclusively  to
          the holders of the Common Stock.

                                      -15-
     <PAGE>

             VOTING RIGHTS

             General.  Each holder  of Common Stock is  entitled to one vote
          for each  whole share held  and in addition  at all elections  of
          directors is entitled to cumulate votes.

             Election of Directors.  The Articles  provide that the Board of
          Directors shall consist  of such  number of directors  as may  be
          fixed  from time  to  time by  a  majority of  the  Disinterested
          Directors (defined below)  then in  office, plus  such number  of
          additional directors, if any, as the holders of  Preferred Stock,
          voting separately as a class or series, shall have the right from
          time to  time to elect.   The Articles  further provide that  the
          Board  of  Directors,  excluding  any directors  elected  by  the
          holders of  Preferred  Stock, voting  separately  as a  class  or
          series, shall be divided  into three classes, as nearly  equal in
          number as  possible.  One  class of directors is  elected at each
          annual meeting  of shareholders, to  hold office until  the third
          succeeding annual meeting and  until their successors are elected
          and qualify.

             The Articles provide that for so  long as the general corporate
          law of the Company's state of incorporation specifically mandates
          such  power, a  director, any  class of  directors or  the entire
          Board of Directors may be removed from office by shareholder vote
          without cause, but only if shareholders entitled to cast at least
          80% of the votes  which all shareholders are entitled to  cast at
          an annual election  of directors  or of such  class of  directors
          shall vote in  favor of such removal.   The power of shareholders
          to remove  directors  without cause  is  not required  under  the
          Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law as currently in effect and,
          therefore, pursuant to the  Articles, the shareholders may remove
          a director  from office only for cause and only if the holders of
          at least  a majority of the voting  power of the then outstanding
          shares of Voting Stock (defined below) which are not beneficially
          owned by an Interested Shareholder  (defined below) shall vote in
          favor of such removal.

             The  Articles  provide that  vacancies  in  the members  of the
          Board of Directors  elected by holders of Voting Stock, including
          vacancies resulting from an increase  in the number of directors,
          shall  be filled  only by  a majority  vote of  the Disinterested
          Directors  then in office, though  less than a  quorum, except as
          otherwise required by law.   Directors elected to fill  vacancies
          will hold office  for a term  expiring at the  annual meeting  of
          shareholders  at which the term  of the class  to which they have
          been elected expires.

             The  Articles  require   that  any  shareholder  intending   to
          nominate a candidate for election as a director must give written
          notice   of   the   nomination,   containing   certain  specified
          information, to the Secretary  of the Company not later  than 120
          days in  advance of the  meeting at which  the election is  to be
          held.

             The  provisions of  the  Articles with  respect to  Election of
          Directors  described  above  would  not apply  to  any  directors
          elected  by the holders of any class  or series of stock having a
          preference over the  Common Stock  as to dividends  or assets  if
          such  directors  are elected  by  holders of  such  stock, voting
          separately as a class or series.

             Business  Combinations.     The   Articles  provide   that  the
          affirmative vote of the holders of (i) at least 80% of the voting
          power  of  all  then  outstanding  shares  of  Voting  Stock  (as
          hereinafter defined), voting as a single class, and (ii) at least
          a majority of  the voting power of the then outstanding shares of
          Voting  Stock which are  not beneficially owned  by an Interested
          Stockholder (as  hereinafter defined), voting as  a single class,
          is  required for  the approval  or authorization of  any Business
          Combination  (as  hereinafter  defined)  involving  an Interested
          Stockholder,  except (a)  a  Business Combination  approved by  a
          majority of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined),
          or (b) a Business  Combination as to which certain  minimum price
          and  procedural requirements  are satisfied.   In  the  event the
          requisite approval of  the Board  would be given  or the  minimum
          price and procedural requirements would be satisfied with respect
          to a particular Business  Combination, the normal requirements of
          Pennsylvania law would apply to such Business Combination.

             An "Interested  Stockholder" at any  particular time means  any
          person which (1) is  at such time the beneficial  owner, directly
          or indirectly,  of more  than  10% of  the  voting power  of  the
          outstanding Voting Stock; (2) is at such time an affiliate of the
          Company and  at any time  within the two-year  period immediately
          prior  to  such  time  was  the  beneficial  owner,  directly  or
          indirectly,  of more  than 10% of  the voting  power of  the then

                                      -16-
     <PAGE>

          outstanding Voting Stock; or  (3) is at such time  an assignee of
          or has  otherwise succeeded  to the  beneficial ownership  of any
          shares of Voting Stock which were at any time within the two-year
          period immediately  prior to such  time beneficially owned  by an
          Interested Stockholder, if  such assignment  or succession  shall
          have  occurred  in  the course  of  a  transaction  or series  of
          transactions not  involving a public offering  within the meaning
          of the Securities Act.  A person is deemed the "beneficial owner"
          of any  shares which such  person or  any of its  "affiliates" or
          "associates"  (as  defined  in  the Articles)  owns  directly  or
          indirectly  or has  the right to  acquire or  vote, or  which are
          owned  by any other person with which such person or an affiliate
          or  an associate has an understanding  with respect to acquiring,
          holding, voting or disposing of Voting Stock.

             A "Business  Combination" includes the following  transactions:
          (1) a merger, consolidation or share exchange of the Company or a
          subsidiary  with an  Interested Stockholder  (or an  affiliate or
          associate  of an  Interested Stockholder);  (2) the  sale, lease,
          exchange,  mortgage, pledge,  transfer, or  other  disposition or
          investment,  loan  or  other  arrangement  by the  Company  or  a
          subsidiary  of 5%  or  more of  the Company's  consolidated total
          assets to, with or  for the benefit of an  Interested Stockholder
          (or an affiliate  or associate of an Interested Stockholder); (3)
          the issuance  or transfer of  securities of  the Company or  of a
          subsidiary  to  an Interested  Stockholder  (or  an affiliate  or
          associate  of an  Interested Stockholder)  in exchange  for cash,
          securities or other  consideration valued  at 5% or  more of  the
          Company's consolidated total assets; (4) the adoption of any plan
          for  the  liquidation, dissolution  or  division  of the  Company
          proposed  by or  on behalf  of an  Interested Stockholder  (or an
          affiliate or  associate of  any Interested Stockholder);  (5) any
          reclassification  of securities, recapitalization of the Company,
          merger or consolidation of the Company with a subsidiary or other
          transaction which increases the percentage of any  class of stock
          of the Company or a subsidiary owned by an Interested Stockholder
          (or an affiliate or  associate of an Interested Stockholder);  or
          (6) any other  transaction similar  in purpose or  effect to  the
          foregoing.

             The term  "Disinterested Director" means  generally a  director
          of  the  Company  who is  not  an  Interested  Stockholder or  an
          affiliate,   associate  or   representative   of  an   Interested
          Stockholder  and  either  (1)  was  a  director  of  the  Company
          immediately prior  to the time the  Interested Stockholder became
          an   Interested  Stockholder   or  (2)   is  a  successor   to  a
          Disinterested Director and is recommended or elected to succeed a
          Disinterested Director  by a  majority of the  then Disinterested
          Directors.

             The term "Voting Stock" means the  capital stock of the Company
          entitled  to vote generally in an annual election of directors of
          the  Company.   At  present, the  Common  Stock and  the Series A
          Preferred Stock are the  only classes or series of  the Company's
          Voting Stock.

             Amendments to the Articles or By-Laws.   The Articles provide
          that any amendment, alteration, change or repeal of any provision
          of  Article 7  or  Article  8  of  the  Articles  (which  contain
          provisions relating  to business  combinations), the adoption  of
          any provision inconsistent therewith, or the  adoption, amendment
          or  repeal by the shareholders  of any By-Law,  shall require the
          affirmative  votes of  (i) the  holders of  at least  80% of  the
          voting power  of all  then outstanding  shares  of Voting  Stock,
          voting together as  a single class,  and (ii) the  holders of  at
          least  a majority  of the  voting power  of the  then outstanding
          shares  of Voting Stock which  are not beneficially  owned by any
          Interested Stockholder, voting together as a single class, unless
          such action  is recommended  by a  majority of the  Disinterested
          Directors   and  at   the   time  of   such  recommendation   the
          Disinterested Directors  constitute a majority of  the full Board
          of Directors,  excluding any directors elected by  the holders of
          Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class or series.

             The  Articles provide that  the Board  of Directors,  by a vote
          including  a  majority of  the  Disinterested  Directors then  in
          office,  may adopt, amend or repeal By-Laws with respect to those
          matters which are  not, by statute,  reserved exclusively to  the
          shareholders.

             The provisions  of the  Articles described  in this  subsection
          "Voting  Rights"  are  in   addition  to  certain  provisions  of
          Pennsylvania law which restrict, or require a special shareholder
          vote to approve, certain  transactions between the Company  and a
          shareholder of the Company.

                                      -17-
     <PAGE>

             The  Articles  reserve  for the  Company  the  right  to amend,
          alter, change  or repeal any  provision contained therein  in the
          manner  now  or  hereafter  prescribed  by  law, and  all  rights
          conferred upon  shareholders therein are granted  subject to this
          reservation.

             The  Articles  also   provide  that  any  action  required   or
          permitted to be taken at a  meeting of shareholders or a class of
          shareholders of the Company  may be taken without a  meeting upon
          the written consent  of shareholders who would have been entitled
          to cast the  minimum number of  votes that would be  necessary to
          authorize the  action  at a  meeting  at which  all  shareholders
          entitled  to vote thereon were present and voting.  Such consents
          shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company.

             DIVIDEND RIGHTS

             The holders of Common Stock are  entitled to dividends when, as
          and if declared by  the Board of Directors  out of funds  legally
          available therefor.  However, the Board of Directors has granted,
          in the  case of the Series  A Preferred Stock, and  may grant, if
          additional  Preferred  Stock  is  issued,  preferential  dividend
          rights  to the holders of such stock which would prohibit payment
          of  dividends on  the  Common Stock  unless  and until  specified
          dividends  on the  Series A  Preferred Stock  or other  Preferred
          Stock had been paid or in other circumstances.

             The  Company owns  all  of the  issued  and  outstanding common
          stock  of  Duquesne  Light  Company.   Future  dividends  on  the
          Company's Common Stock will be largely dependent upon the payment
          of  dividends  by Duquesne  Light Company  to  the Company.   The
          payment  of dividends  by Duquesne  Light Company to  the Company
          will be affected by the earnings, financial condition and capital
          requirements  of  Duquesne  Light  Company,  as well  as  by  the
          provisions of  Duquesne Light  Company's Restated Articles  which
          restrict the payment of cash dividends or other distributions on,
          or  the  purchase or  redemption of,  its  common stock  or other
          capital  stock   ranking  junior  to   Duquesne  Light  Company's
          preferred  stock  (collectively  referred  to  as  "junior  stock
          payments").  No dividends or distribution may be made on Duquesne
          Light Company's  common stock if dividends or sinking or purchase
          fund obligations  on Duquesne Light Company's  preferred stock or
          preference stock  are accumulated  and unpaid.   Furthermore, the
          aggregate  amount of junior stock  payments which may  be made in
          any  12-month period is in general limited to (i) 50% of Duquesne
          Light Company's  consolidated net income (as  defined in Duquesne
          Light  Company's   Restated  Articles)  for  any   period  of  12
          consecutive calendar months within the 15 preceding months if the
          effect  of  such  payments  would  be  to  reduce  Duquesne Light
          Company's ratio of common stock equity to total capitalization to
          less than  20% or (ii) 75% of such consolidated net income if the
          effect would be to reduce such ratio to 20% or more but less than
          25%.

             LIQUIDATION RIGHTS

             Upon liquidation,  dissolution or  winding up  of the  Company,
          whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Common Stock are
          entitled  to share ratably in the assets of the Company available
          for distribution after  all liabilities of the  Company have been
          satisfied.   The Board of Directors  has granted, in  the case of
          the  Series A  Preferred  Stock,  and may  grant,  if  additional
          Preferred Stock is issued, preferential liquidation rights to the
          holders of such stock which would entitle them to be  paid out of
          the assets of  the Company available for  distribution before any
          distribution  is made  to  the  holders  of  Common  Stock.    In
          addition, because Duquesne Light  Company and the Company's other
          subsidiaries have debt obligations and other liabilities of their
          own, the Company's  rights and  the rights of  its creditors  and
          shareholders  to  participate in  the  assets  of Duquesne  Light
          Company or other subsidiaries of the Company upon the liquidation
          of  Duquesne Light Company or  any other such  subsidiary will be
          subject to the prior claims of creditors of such subsidiaries.

             MISCELLANEOUS

             Holders of Common Stock have no  preemptive or other rights  to
          subscribe for any shares or securities of the Company.  There are
          no  sinking  fund  provisions, conversion  rights  or  redemption
          provisions applicable  to the Common  Stock, and  the holders  of
          fully paid Common Stock are under no liability for assessments by
          the Company.

                                      -18-
     <PAGE>

             ALLEGHENY COMMON STOCK

             Upon  the  consummation  of  the  merger  of  the  Company  and
          Allegheny,  as  described herein,  each  share  of the  Company's
          Common  Stock  will be  exchanged  for 1.12  shares  of Allegheny
          common stock.   For a description of Allegheny common stock and a
          comparison of  the rights  of holders of  Allegheny common  stock
          relative  to   holders  of   the  Company's  Common   Stock,  see
          "DESCRIPTION OF APS STOCK" and  "COMPARISON OF CERTAIN RIGHTS OF
          THE HOLDERS  OF APS  COMMON STOCK AND  DQE COMMON  STOCK" in  the
          Joint Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

          TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS

             The  Co-Transfer Agent  and  Co-Registrar for  the  DQE  Common
          Stock  is The  First  National Bank  of  Boston, P.O.  Box  1728,
          Boston, Massachusetts  02105-1728.   Duquesne Light  Company, Box
          68, Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania 15230-0068,  is  an additional  Co-
          Transfer Agent, and Mellon  Securities Trust Company, Mellon Bank
          Center,  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  15258,  is  an additional  Co-
          Registrar.  The Company,  Box 68, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-
          0068, is the Transfer Agent for the Series A Preferred Stock, and
          Mellon  Securities Trust Company, Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh,
          Pennsylvania 15258, is the Registrar.


                                       EXPERTS


               The consolidated  financial statements incorporated  in this
          Prospectus by  reference from the Company's  latest Annual Report
          on  Form 10-K  have  been  audited  by  Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP,
          independent  auditors,  as  stated  in  their  report,  which  is
          incorporated herein  by reference, and have  been so incorporated
          in  reliance  upon  the report  of  such  firm  given upon  their
          authority as experts in accounting and auditing.


                                    LEGAL MATTERS


               The validity of the Series A Preferred Stock and  the Common
          Stock will be passed upon for the Company by David R. High, Esq.,
          Assistant General Counsel  of Duquesne Light Company, and by Reid
          & Priest LLP of New  York, New York.  Reid & Priest  LLP may rely
          as  to all matters  of Pennsylvania law  upon the  opinion of Mr.
          High.

                                      -19-
     <PAGE>


          =================================================================






                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                       Page
                                                                       ----


          Available Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
          Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference . . . . . . .   2
          Summary   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
          The Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
          The Acquisitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
          Resales of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
          Description of Capital Stock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
          Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
          Legal Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19




                                   ---------------




            NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR  OTHER PERSON HAS  BEEN AUTHORIZED  TO
          GIVE ANY  INFORMATION OR TO  MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS  OTHER THAN
          THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS  PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR  MADE, SUCH
          INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING
          BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY  THE  COMPANY.    THIS  PROSPECTUS  DOES  NOT
          CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY
          SHARES  BY  ANYONE IN  ANY JURISDICTION  IN  WHICH SUCH  OFFER OR
          SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING THE
          OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR TO ANY PERSON
          TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER TO SOLICITATION.  UNDER
          NO CIRCUMSTANCES  SHALL THE DELIVERY  OF THIS PROSPECTUS,  OR ANY
          SALE  MADE PURSUANT  TO THIS  PROSPECTUS, CREATE  ANY IMPLICATION
          THAT THE  INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS  IS CORRECT AS
          OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS.


          =================================================================


          =================================================================




                                      DQE, Inc.




                                   1,000,000 SHARES

                                   PREFERRED STOCK,

                                SERIES A (CONVERTIBLE)






                                      ----------
                                      PROSPECTUS
                                      ----------





                                   August    , 1997

          ================================================================

     <PAGE>

                                       PART II
                        INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


          ITEM 20.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

             Under the Restated Articles of DQE,  to the fullest extent that
          the  laws of  the  Commonwealth of  Pennsylvania,  as now  or  as
          hereafter  amended,  permit  elimination  or  limitation  of  the
          liability  of directors, no  director of DQE  shall be personally
          liable  for monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure
          to take action, as a director.

             Under  the By-Laws of  DQE, the  directors and  officers of DQE
          are each entitled to  be indemnified against reasonable expenses,
          including attorneys' fees, and any  liability paid or incurred by
          them in connection with  any actual or threatened  claim, action,
          suit or other proceeding by reason of  their being or having been
          a director  or officer of DQE, or serving or having served at the
          request  of  DQE  as  a representative  of  another  corporation,
          partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
          entity, except as prohibited by law.

             Section 1746(b)  of the Pennsylvania  Business Corporation  Law
          prohibits indemnification in any case where the act or failure to
          act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by
          a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness.

             DQE  maintains   director  and   officer  liability   insurance
          covering  the  directors   and  officers  of  DQE   and  all  its
          subsidiaries  with respect  to certain  liabilities which  may be
          incurred in  connection with their service  to DQE or  any of its
          subsidiaries, including liabilities  arising under the Securities
          Act of 1933,  as amended.  This  insurance provides reimbursement
          to DQE and its subsidiaries up to policy  limits for amounts paid
          to  directors  and  officers   pursuant  to  the  indemnification
          provisions summarized above.


          ITEM 21.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

             Reference is made to the Exhibit Index on page II-4 hereof, such
          Exhibit Index being incorporated by such reference in this Item 21.


          ITEM 22.  UNDERTAKINGS

             Insofar as  indemnification for liabilities  arising under  the
          Securities  Act of 1933  may be permitted  to directors, officers
          and  controlling  persons  of  the  Registrant  pursuant  to  the
          foregoing  provisions, or  otherwise,  the  Registrant  has  been
          advised  that  in the  opinion  of  the Securities  and  Exchange
          Commission  such  indemnification  is against  public  policy  as
          expressed  in the Act and  is, therefore, unenforceable.   In the
          event that  a claim for indemnification  against such liabilities
          (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
          paid  by  a  director,  officer  or  controlling  person  of  the
          Registrant in  the  successful defense  of  any action,  suit  or
          proceeding) is asserted by  such director, officer or controlling
          person in  connection with  the securities being  registered, the
          Registrant  will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
          has been settled by  controlling precedent, submit to a  court of
          appropriate    jurisdiction    the    question    whether    such
          indemnification  by it is  against public policy  as expressed in
          the Act and will  be governed by  the final adjudication of  such
          issue.


             The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

             (1)  to   respond   to  requests   for   information  that   is
                  incorporated by reference into the  prospectus pursuant to
                  Items  4,  10(b),  11  or  13  of  this  Form,  within one
                  business day of receipt of such  request, and to send  the
                  incorporated  documents  by  first  class  mail  or  other
                  equally   prompt   means.     This   includes  information
                  contained in documents filed  subsequent to the  effective
                  date of  the Registration  Statement through  the date  of
                  responding to the request;

             (2)  to  supply by  means  of a  post-effective  amendment  all
                  information  concerning  a  transaction,  and the  company
                  being acquired involved therein, that was not the  subject
                  of  and included  in the  registration statement  when  it
                  became effective;

                                      II-1
     <PAGE>

             (3)  to file,  during any period in  which offers  or sales are
                  being   made,   a   post-effective   amendment   to   this
                  registration statement:

                  (i)  to include  any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
                  of the Securities Act of 1933;

                  (ii)  to  reflect in  the  prospectus  any facts  or  events
                  arising  after  the  effective  date  of  the   registration
                  statement  (or  the  most  recent  post-effective  amendment
                  thereof)  which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
                  a fundamental  change in  the information  set forth  in the
                  registration statement;

                  (iii) to  include any  material information with  respect to
                  the  plan of  distribution not  previously disclosed  in the
                  registration  statement  or  any  material  change  to  such
                  information in the registration statement;

                  provided, however, that paragraphs (3)(i) and (3)(ii) do not
                  apply to  the Registrant if  the information required  to be
                  included in  a post-effective amendment by  those paragraphs
                  is contained in periodic reports filed with or  furnished to
                  the Commission by  the registrant pursuant to Section  13 or
                  15(d) of  the  Securities  Exchange Act  of  1934  that  are
                  incorporated by reference in the registration statement;

             (4)  that, for the  purpose of determining any liability  under
                  the  Securities  Act of  1933,  each  such  post-effective
                  amendment  shall  be  deemed  to  be  a  new  registration
                  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and
                  the  offering of  such  securities at  that time  shall be
                  deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

             (5)  to remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
                  amendment  any of  the securities  being registered  which
                  remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

             (6)  that, for purposes of determining any liability under  the
                  Securities Act  of 1933, each  filing of the  Registrant's
                  annual report pursuant  to section  13(a) or 15(d) of  the
                  Securities Exchange  Act of 1934  that is incorporated  by
                  reference in  the registration statement  shall be  deemed
                  to  be  a  new  registration  statement  relating  to  the
                  securities  offered  therein, and  the  offering  of  such
                  securities at that time shall be  deemed to be the initial
                  bona fide offering thereof;

             (7)  (i)  that prior to any public reoffering of the securities
                  registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which  is
                  a part  of this registration  statement, by  any person or
                  party  who  is  deemed to  be  an  underwriter  within the
                  meaning of  Rule 145(c),  such reoffering  prospectus will
                  contain  the  information  called for  by  the  applicable
                  registration form with  respect to reofferings by  persons
                  who  may  be  deemed  underwriters,  in  addition  to  the
                  information  called  for   by  the  other  items  of   the
                  applicable form; and

                  (ii)  that every prospectus:  (a) that is  filed pursuant to
                  paragraph (i) immediately preceding, or (b) that purports to
                  meet  the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Act and is
                  used in connection with an offering of securities subject to
                  Rule 415, will  be filed as  a part of  an amendment to  the
                  registration  statement  and will  not  be  used until  such
                  amendment   is   effective,  and   that,  for   purposes  of
                  determining any liability under  the Securities Act of 1933,
                  each  such post-effective amendment shall be  deemed to be a
                  new  registration  statement  relating  to   the  securities
                  offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
                  time  shall be deemed to  be the initial  bona fide offering
                  thereof.

                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY


          Each director  and/or officer  of the Registrant  whose signature
          appears on the  following page  appoints Victor A.  Roque and  J.
          Anthony Terrell, and  each of them severally, as his attorney-in-
          fact to  sign in his name  and behalf, in any  and all capacities
          stated  above,  and  to  file with  the  Securities  and Exchange
          Commission,  any and  all  amendments,  including  post-effective
          amendments, to  this registration  statement, and  the Registrant
          hereby  also appoints  each such  person as  its attorney-in-fact
          with like authority  to sign and file any such  amendments in its
          name and behalf.

                                      II-2
     <PAGE> 


                                      SIGNATURES

             Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act,  the
          Registrant  has duly  caused  this Registration  Statement to  be
          signed  on   its  behalf  by  the   undersigned,  thereunto  duly
          authorized,   in   the  City   of  Pittsburgh,   Commonwealth  of
          Pennsylvania, on  July 29, 1997.

                                        DQE, INC.

                                        By: /s/ Gary L. Schwass
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Gary L. Schwass
                                            Executive Vice President and
                                            Chief Financial Officer


             Pursuant to  the requirements of  the Securities  Act of  1933,
          this  Registration Statement  has  been signed  by the  following
          persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

      Signature                  Title                        Date
      ---------                  -----                        ----

 
      /s/ David D. Marshall
      ------------------------   President, Chief             July 29, 1997  
      David D. Marshall          Executive Officer         
                                  and Director


      /s/ Gary L. Schwass                                              
      ------------------------   Executive Vice President     July 29, 1997
      Gary L. Schwass             and Chief Financial
                                  Officer


      /s/ Morgan K. O'Brien                          
      ------------------------   Controller and Principal     July 29, 1997
      Morgan K. O'Brien           Accounting Officer


      /s/ Daniel Berg                              
      ------------------------   Director                     July 29, 1997
      Daniel Berg


      /s/ Doreen E. Boyce                                     
      ------------------------   Director                     July 29, 1997
      Doreen E. Boyce


      /s/ Robert P. Bozzone                                   
      ------------------------   Director                     July 29, 1997
      Robert P. Bozzone


      /s/ Sigo Falk                                           
      ------------------------   Director                     July 29, 1997
      Sigo Falk


      /s/ William H. Knoell                                   
      ------------------------   Director                     July 29, 1997
      William H. Knoell


      /s/ Robert Mehrabian                                    
      ------------------------   Director                     July 29, 1997
      Robert Mehrabian


      /s/ Thomas J. Murrin                                    
      ------------------------   Director                     July 29, 1997
      Thomas J. Murrin


      /s/ Eric W. Springer                                    
      ------------------------   Director                     July 29, 1997
      Eric W. Springer

                                      II-3
     <PAGE>

                                  INDEX TO EXHIBITS


      Exhibit
       No.       Description and Method of Filing
      -------    --------------------------------

      3.1*       Articles of Incorporation,  Exhibit 3.1 to the
                 effective January 5, 1989.  Company's Annual Report
                                             on Form 10-K for the year
                                             ended December 31, 1989.

      3.2*       Articles of Amendment,      Exhibit 3.2 to the
                 effective April 27, 1989    Company's Annual Report
                 containing Restated         on Form 10-K for the year
                 Articles of Incorporation   ended December 31, 1989.
                 of DQE, Inc.  

      3.3*       Articles of Amendment,      Exhibit 3.3 to the
                 effective February 8,       Company's Annual Report
                 1993.                       on Form 10-K for the year
                                             ended December 31, 1992.

      3.4*       Articles of Amendment,      Exhibit 3.4 to the
                 effective May 24, 1994.     Company's Annual Report
                                             on Form 10-K for the year
                                             ended December 31, 1994.

      3.5*       Articles of Amendment,      Exhibit 3.5 to the
                 effective April 20, 1995.   Company's Annual Report
                                             on Form 10-K for the year
                                             ended December 31, 1995.

      3.6*       By-Laws, as amended         Exhibit 3.6 to the
                 through December 18,        Company's Annual Report
                 1996 and as currently       on Form 10-K for the year
                 in effect.                  ended December 31, 1996.

      4.1        Form of Statement with      Filed herewith.
                 respect to Preferred
                 Stock, Series A
                 (Convertible).

      5.1        Opinion of David R. High.   Filed herewith.

      5.2 & 8    Opinion of Reid & Priest    Filed herewith.
                 LLP.

      12.1       Computation of ratio of     Filed herewith.
                 earnings to combined
                 fixed charges and
                 preferred stock
                 dividends.

      23.1       Consent of David R. High.   Filed herewith as part of
                                             Exhibit 5.1.

      23.2       Consent of Reid & Priest    Filed herewith as part of
                 LLP                         Exhibit 5.2.

      23.3       Consent of Deloitte &       Filed herewith.
                 Touche LLP

      24.1       Power of attorney           Filed herewith on Page
                                             II-2.


     -------------------
     *   Previously filed as indicated and incorporated herein by reference.

                                      II-4




                                                                Exhibit 4.1

                                      DQE, INC.

                                       FORM OF
                            STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE
                       PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A (CONVERTIBLE)
                       ---------------------------------------

                    In compliance with the requirements of Section 1522 of

          the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, DQE, Inc., a

          Pennsylvania corporation, certifies under its corporate seal as

          follows:

                    (1)  The name of the corporation is DQE, Inc.

                    (2)  At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the

          corporation duly called and held on July 29, 1997, at which a

          quorum was present and acting throughout, the Board adopted the

          following resolutions establishing a series of Preferred Stock of

          the corporation designated as "Preferred Stock, Series A

          (Convertible)" and determining the voting rights, preferences,

          limitations and special rights thereof:

                    RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority expressly
          vested in this Board of Directors by the Restated Articles of
          Incorporation, as amended, of the Company, the Board hereby (i)
          establishes a series of Preferred Stock designated "Preferred
          Stock, Series A (Convertible)" (the "Series A Preferred Stock")
          consisting of 1,000,000 shares and having the terms and
          provisions presented to this meeting, such terms and provisions
          being incorporated into this resolution by reference and deemed
          to be a part hereof and (ii) directs that such terms and
          provisions be attached as an exhibit to the statement required by
          Section 1522 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988
          to be filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of
          Pennsylvania with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock; and

                    RESOLVED FURTHER, that the President, any Vice
          President or the Treasurer, together with the Secretary or any
          Assistant Secretary, of the Company be, and they hereby are,
          authorized and empowered to execute, with such changes as they
          deem necessary, under the corporate seal of the Company, and
          cause to be filed with the Department of State of the
          Commonwealth of Pennsylvania a statement with respect to the
          Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 1522 of the
          Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988; and

                    (3)  The aggregate number of shares of such series

          established and designated by the Board of Directors of the

          corporation is 1,000,000 shares.  No additional shares of such

          series have been established and designated in prior statements

          or in any provisions of the Restated Articles of the corporation.

                    (4)  The resolutions set forth in (2) above were

          adopted by the Board of Directors of the corporation at a meeting

          held on July 29, 1997; and the terms and provisions of the

          Preferred Stock, Series A (Convertible) presented to and approved

          at such meeting are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, DQE, Inc. has caused this Statement

          to be executed by its Executive Vice President and Chief

          Financial Officer and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed

          and attested by an Assistant Secretary this     day of August,

          1997.

                                             DQE, Inc.

                                             By 
                                               ---------------------------
                                               Gary L. Schwass
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer

          Attest:


          -----------------------
            Assistant Secretary

                    Filed in the Department of State on the ______ day of
          __________________, 1997.


                                             -----------------------------
                                             Secretary of the Commonwealth


          <PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT A

                                      DQE, INC.

                                     -----------

                       PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A (CONVERTIBLE)

                                     -----------



               One Million  (1,000,000) shares of the  authorized Preferred
          Stock shall be designated Preferred Stock, Series A (Convertible)
          (the  "Series  A Preferred  Stock")  and  shall have  the  voting
          rights, preferences, limitations and  special rights set forth in
          paragraphs (a) through (h) hereof.

               (a)  Dividends.
                    ---------

                    (1)  General.  When, as and if declared by the Board of
                         -------
          Directors and subject to the rights  of the holders of any shares
          of any series of Preferred Stock or other stock ranking senior to
          the  Series  A Preferred  Stock  with respect  to  dividends, the
          Corporation shall  pay, out of funds  legally available therefor,
          dividends in cash  to the holders of shares of Series A Preferred
          at the applicable dividend rate or rates.

                   (2)  Dividend Rate.  The dividend rate with respect to
                         -------------
          each share of  Series A Preferred Stock shall be  equal to 67% of
          the average yield  (for a  maturity range of  from five to  seven
          years) on  corporate bonds  rated  in the  second highest  rating
          category (without  regard to  any refinement  or  gradation by  a
          numerical modifier  or otherwise)  by  any nationally  recognized
          statistical rating organization  for a  period of  not less  than
          five business days ending on a day not more than 10 business days
          preceding the Date  of Issuance (as hereinafter defined)  of such
          share,  as  reported  by   any  independent  source  of  publicly
          available  financial   information,  all  as   certified  to  the
          Corporate Secretary of the Corporation  by the President, or  any
          Vice President, or the Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer,  of
          the  Corporation,  it  being  understood  that  each  certificate
          representing  a share or shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
          set  forth  the  actual dividend  rate  on  the  share or  shares
          represented   thereby.     Anything   herein   to  the   contrary
          notwithstanding, (a) the dividend  rate on any share of  Series A
          Preferred Stock  determined as  aforesaid, if  not a multiple  of
          one-tenth  (1/10) of one percentum  (1%), shall be  rounded up to
          the nearest such multiple and (b) such dividend rate shall in  no
          event be more than 12% per annum.

                   (3)  Dividend Payment Dates.  Dividends on shares of the
                        ----------------------
          Series A Preferred Stock  shall be payable, subject to  the terms
          and  conditions  hereof,  on   each  Dividend  Payment  Date  (as
          hereinafter  defined), beginning  on  the first  Dividend Payment
          Date following  the respective Dates of Issuance  of such shares,
          to  the registered  holders  of such  shares as  of the  close of
          business on the Record Date (as hereinafter defined) with respect
          to such Dividend  Payment Date; provided,  however, that, if  the
          Date of Issuance of a share  of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
          after a Record Date and before the corresponding Dividend Payment
          Date, the first payment of a dividend on such share shall be made
          on the next  succeeding Dividend  Payment Date to  the holder  in
          whose name such share  is registered at the close  of business on
          the  Record Date  with respect to  such next  succeeding Dividend
          Payment Date.  

                   (4) Accrual of Dividends, etc.  Dividends shall begin to
                       -------------------------
          accrue on shares of the Series A Preferred Stock from the Date or
          Dates of Issuance thereof;  provided, however, that if additional
          shares  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock  shall have  been  issued
          subsequent  to  the  initial  issuance  of  shares  of  Series  A
          Preferred Stock, all dividends declared and paid or set apart for
          payment  on the  Series A  Preferred Stock  prior to the  Date of
          Issuance of such additional  shares shall be deemed to  have been
          paid on such additional shares. Dividends shall accrue on a daily
          basis whether or not at the time the Corporation shall have funds
          legally  available for  distributions to  shareholders.   Accrued
          dividends for  any period less than a full annual period shall be
          computed on the basis of a year deemed to consist of (A) 360 days
          and (B) twelve calendar months each, itself, deemed to consist of
          30 days; provided, however, that,  if any part of the period  for
          which accrued  dividends are  being computed  shall consist  of a
          portion of a calendar  month, accrued dividends for such  part of
          such period shall be computed on  the basis of the actual  number
          of days elapsed during such calendar month (excluding the date of
          payment, if any, in such calendar month)  in relation to the full
          annual dividend  accrued during a  deemed 360-day year.   Accrued
          but unpaid dividends shall accumulate as of  the Dividend Payment
          Date  on which they first  become payable, but  no interest shall
          accrue on accumulated but unpaid dividends.

                    (5)  Parity Stock.  So long as any Series A Preferred
                         ------------
          Stock  shall be outstanding, if  (A) at any  time the Corporation
          shall not have satisfied in full the cumulative dividends accrued
          on  the Series  A Preferred  Stock for  all Dividend  Periods (as
          hereinafter defined) ended  at or prior to  such time  and (B) at
          such time there shall  have accrued and shall remain  unpaid, for
          Dividend Periods ended  at or  prior to such  time, dividends  on
          shares of any other  series of the Preferred  Stock or any  other
          class of stock in either case ranking as to dividends on a parity
          with the Series A  Preferred Stock, any funds of  the Corporation
          legally  available for the  purpose shall be  allocated among all
          cumulative dividends accrued and unpaid, for all Dividend Periods
          ended at or prior to such time, on all such parity series of  the
          Preferred  Stock and such other parity stock in proportion to the
          respective amounts thereof.

                    (6)  Junior Securities.  So long as any Series A
                         -----------------
          Preferred Stock  shall be outstanding, the  Corporation shall not
          (A) declare or pay or set apart for payment any dividends or make
          any other distributions on  any Junior Securities (as hereinafter
          defined)  or (B) make any  payment on account  of the redemption,
          purchase  or  other  acquisition  or  retirement  of  any  Junior
          Securities,  unless,  as of  the  date of  any  such declaration,
          setting aside  or payment, as the  case may be, there  shall also
          have  been declared and paid  or set aside  for payment dividends
          accumulated on the Series  A Preferred Stock during  all Dividend
          Periods ended on or  prior to such date; provided,  however, that
          the  foregoing restriction  shall not  prohibit (X)  any dividend
          payable  solely  in  shares  of  Junior  Securities  or  (Y)  the
          acquisition of any  Junior Securities either (i)  pursuant to any
          employee  or director  incentive or  benefit plan  or arrangement
          (including any employment, severance or consulting agreement), or
          any dividend  or interest reinvestment or stock purchase plan, of
          the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation heretofore or
          hereafter adopted or (ii) in exchange solely for any other Junior
          Securities;  and  provided, further,  that  nothing herein  shall
          prevent the  simultaneous declaration or payment  of dividends on
          both the Series A  Preferred Stock and any Junior  Securities if,
          at  the time  of  such declaration,  there  are sufficient  funds
          legally available to pay all dividends concurrently.

               (b)  Liquidation.
                    -----------

                    (1)  General.  Subject to the rights of the holders of
                         -------
          any stock of  the Corporation ranking  senior to  or on a  parity
          with the  Series A  Preferred Stock  in respect  of distributions
          upon  the   liquidation,  dissolution   or  winding  up   of  the
          Corporation, upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up
          (whether voluntary  or involuntary),  each holder  of  Series   A
          Preferred Stock shall  be entitled to be paid, out  of the assets
          of the Corporation which  remain after the payment  and discharge
          of all liabilities of the Corporation, before any distribution or
          payment is made  upon any  Junior Securities, an  amount in  cash
          equal to the aggregate Liquidation Value (as hereinafter defined)
          of the  shares of Series  A Preferred  Stock held by  such holder
          plus an amount equal  to accrued and unpaid dividends  thereon to
          (but excluding) the date of payment, and the holders of Series  A
          Preferred  Stock shall  not be  entitled to any  further payment.
          If, upon any such  liquidation, dissolution or winding up  of the
          Corporation, the Corporation's assets available to be distributed
          among the holders of the  Series A Preferred Stock and any  other
          series  of the  Preferred  Stock  and  any  other  stock  of  the
          corporation in either case ranking as to any such distribution on
          a  parity with the Series  A Preferred Stock  are insufficient to
          permit payment to such holders of the aggregate amount which they
          are entitled to be  paid, then the entire assets available  to be
          distributed  to the Corporation's shareholders shall be allocated
          among all liquidation  requirements on all such  parity series of
          Preferred  Stock and such other parity stock in proportion to the
          respective amounts then required for the satisfaction thereof.

                   (2)  Notice.  Not less than 30 days prior to the payment
                        ------
          date stated therein, the Corporation shall mail written notice of
          any such  liquidation, dissolution or  winding up to  each record
          holder of Series  A Preferred  Stock, the payment  date or  dates
          when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable to
          holders  of Series A Preferred Stock  in such circumstances shall
          be payable, and stating that such payment will be made only after
          the  surrender of  certificates representing  shares of  Series A
          Preferred Stock; provided, however, that a failure to give notice
          as  provided above  or any  defect therein  shall not  affect the
          Corporation's ability to consummate a liquidation, dissolution or
          winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary.

                    (3)  Other Transactions.  Neither the consolidation,
                         ------------------
          merger or other combination  of the Corporation with or  into any
          other entity or entities  (whether or not the Corporation  is the
          surviving entity), nor the sale, transfer or other disposition by
          the  Corporation  of  all or  any  part  of its  assets,  nor the
          reduction of the capital  stock of the Corporation nor  any other
          form   of  recapitalization   or  reorganization   affecting  the
          Corporation shall be  deemed to be a  liquidation, dissolution or
          winding  up  of  the  Corporation  within  the  meaning  of  this
          paragraph (b).

               (c)  Redemption.
                    ----------

                   (1)  Mandatory Redemption. The Corporation shall, on the
                        --------------------
          Scheduled Call Date  (as hereinafter defined)  for each share  of
          Series A Preferred Stock, redeem such share at a price  per share
          equal  to the Liquidation Value  thereof plus an  amount equal to
          accrued and unpaid  dividends thereon to (but excluding) the date
          fixed for  redemption; provided,  however,  that the  Corporation
          shall not be obligated to redeem any  share of Series A Preferred
          Stock  which is  to be converted  into Conversion  Securities (as
          hereinafter  defined) on  or  prior to  the  Scheduled Call  Date
          pursuant to paragraph (d) hereof.

                    (2)  Optional Redemption.  The Corporation may, at any
                         -------------------
          time after the fifth  anniversary of the Date of  Issuance of any
          shares  of Series  A  Preferred  Stock  and  from  time  to  time
          thereafter, redeem all  or any number of such shares  of Series A
          Preferred  Stock then outstanding at  a price per  share equal to
          the Liquidation Value thereof plus an amount equal to accrued and
          unpaid dividends  thereon to (but  excluding) the date  fixed for
          redemption.   If less than all  of the outstanding  shares of the
          Series  A Preferred  Stock  are to  be redeemed,  the Corporation
          shall  select the shares to be redeemed based on their respective
          Dates  of  Issuance; and,  if less  than  all of  the outstanding
          shares of the  Series A Preferred  Stock having the same  Date of
          Issuance  are to be  redeemed, the  Corporation shall  select the
          shares to be  redeemed pro rata, by lot or by any other method as
          shall be determined by the Corporation to be equitable.

                   (3)  Notice of Redemption.  Unless otherwise required by
                        --------------------
          applicable law, notice of redemption pursuant to subparagraph (1)
          or (2) of this paragraph (c) shall be sent to the holders  of the
          shares  of Series  A  Preferred  Stock  to  be  redeemed  at  the
          addresses  shown on the books  of the Corporation  by first class
          mail,  postage prepaid, mailed not less than thirty (30) days nor
          more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date. Each such
          notice  shall state (A) the redemption date, (B) the total number
          of shares of  Series A  Preferred Stock  to be  redeemed and,  if
          fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed,
          the  number of  such shares  to be  redeemed, (C)  the redemption
          price, (D) the place or places where certificates for such shares
          are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price and (E)
          that dividends on the shares to  be redeemed will cease to accrue
          on  such  redemption  date. Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the
          failure so to  mail any such  notice of redemption or  any defect
          therein or in the  mailing thereof shall not affect  the validity
          of  the redemption proceedings with respect to shares as to which
          there  shall have been  no such failure  or defect.   A notice of
          redemption  may be combined with  a notice of conversion pursuant
          to paragraph (d).

                    With respect  to any notice of redemption  of shares of
          Series  A  Preferred  Stock at  the  option  of  the Corporation,
          unless,  upon the  giving of  such notice,  such shares  shall be
          deemed to have been redeemed  and to be no longer outstanding  in
          accordance with and subject to subparagraph (4) of this paragraph
          (c),  such  notice  may  state  that  such  redemption  shall  be
          conditional  upon the  setting aside  by the  Corporation  or the
          delivery to  a Redemption Agent  (as hereinafter defined),  on or
          prior to the date fixed for such redemption, of legally available
          funds  sufficient to pay the redemption price of such shares, and
          that if such funds shall not  have been so set aside or delivered
          such notice shall be  of no force or  effect and the  Corporation
          shall not  be required to redeem  such shares. In the  event that
          such  notice of  redemption  contains such  a condition  and such
          funds are not so set aside or delivered, the redemption shall not
          be made and within  a reasonable time thereafter notice  shall be
          given that such funds were not so set aside or delivered and such
          redemption was not required to be made.

                    Notice  of redemption  having been given  as aforesaid,
          and the conditions, if any, set forth in such notice having  been
          satisfied, (A)  the shares of Series  A Preferred Stock  so to be
          redeemed  shall,  on  the  date  fixed  for  redemption and  upon
          surrender of certificates for such shares in accordance with such
          notice, be  redeemed at  the redemption price  therein specified,
          (B)  from  and  after  such  date  (unless,  in  the  case of  an
          unconditional  notice of  redemption, the Corporation  shall have
          failed to set  aside or deliver to  a Redemption Agent  moneys to
          pay  the redemption price and accrued and unpaid dividends to the
          redemption date) dividends  shall cease to accrue  on such shares
          and (C)  no interest shall  accrue on the redemption  price on or
          after the date fixed for redemption.

                    (4)  Redemption Payment.  Any shares of Series A
                         ------------------
          Preferred Stock shall be deemed  to have been redeemed and to  be
          no longer  outstanding capital stock of the  Corporation, and all
          rights  of the holders of  such shares (except  only the right to
          receive the  redemption price thereof  and (without  duplication)
          dividends  accrued and  to  accrue thereon  to  the date  of  the
          redemption  thereof  pursuant   to  this  paragraph   (c))  shall
          terminate, on  the earlier of (A)  the date on or  after the date
          fixed  for the redemption of such shares on which the Corporation
          shall have set aside money sufficient to pay the redemption price
          thereof  and  (B)  the date  of  an  irrevocable  deposit with  a
          Redemption Agent, in trust, of money  in an amount which shall be
          sufficient  to pay when due  the redemption price  of such shares
          and (without duplication) dividends accrued and to accrue thereon
          to (but excluding)  the date  fixed for  the redemption  thereof;
          provided,  however,  that  in  the  case  of  the  provision  for
          redemption  of less than all  shares of Series  A Preferred Stock
          then  outstanding,  such  shares  shall have  been  selected  for
          redemption as provided  herein and the notice  of such redemption
          shall  have been duly  given or irrevocable  authority shall have
          been  given by the Corporation  to such Redemption  Agent to give
          such notice, under  arrangements satisfactory to such  Redemption
          Agent; and  provided, further,  that if  such deposit  shall have
          been  made prior to  the date  fixed for  the redemption  of such
          shares, the  Corporation shall have delivered  to such Redemption
          Agent written  instructions stating  that the money  so deposited
          with  such  Redemption Agent  shall  be held  by  such Redemption
          Agent, in trust, as hereinafter provided.

                    The money deposited with a Redemption Agent pursuant to
          this  subparagraph (4) of paragraph (c) shall not be withdrawn or
          used for  any purpose other than, and shall be held in trust for,
          the payment  of the redemption  price of  the shares of  Series A
          Preferred Stock in  respect of  which such deposit  was made  and
          (without duplication) dividends accrued  and to accrue thereon to
          the  date fixed  for the  redemption thereof;  provided, however,
          that any of  such moneys so held by such  Redemption Agent on the
          date fixed  for the redemption  of such  shares in excess  of the
          amount required to pay the redemption price thereof and  (without
          duplication)   dividends  accrued  and  unpaid  thereon  to  (but
          excluding) the  date fixed  for the  redemption thereof  shall be
          paid over to the Corporation free and clear of any trust, lien or
          pledge.

                    Any money remaining  set aside by the Corporation or on
          deposit with a  Redemption Agent and unclaimed  by the registered
          holders of shares so called for redemption at the end of a period
          of one  year after  the date fixed  for redemption shall  be paid
          over  to the Corporation and/or returned to its general funds and
          thereafter such  holders shall look  only to the  Corporation for
          the satisfaction of such rights, if any, as they may  have to the
          payment  of the  redemption  price of  such  shares and  (without
          duplication) dividends accrued and  unpaid to (but excluding) the
          date fixed for redemption.

                    (5)  Parity Stock.  If (A) at any time the Corporation
                         ------------
          shall not have satisfied in full its redemption obligations under
          subparagraph (1) of this paragraph (c)  and (B) at such time  the
          Corporation shall  be obligated to redeem,  purchase or otherwise
          acquire or retire shares  of any other series of  Preferred Stock
          or any  other  class  of  stock in  either  case  ranking  as  to
          distributions upon  liquidation, dissolution  or winding up  on a
          parity  with the  Series  A Preferred  Stock,  any funds  of  the
          Corporation legally available for  the purpose shall be allocated
          among all such obligations on all such parity series of Preferred
          Stock and such other parity stock in proportion to the respective
          amounts thereof.

                    (6)  Junior Securities.  If at any time the Corporation
                         -----------------
          shall not have satisfied in full its redemption obligations under
          subparagraph (1) of this paragraph (c), the Corporation shall not
          (A) declare or pay or set apart for payment any dividends or make
          any  other distributions on any Junior Securities or (B) make any
          payment  on   account  of  the  redemption,   purchase  or  other
          acquisition  or retirement  of any  Junior  Securities; provided,
          however, that  the foregoing  restriction shall not  prohibit (X)
          any dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Securities or (Y)
          the acquisition of  Junior Securities either (i) pursuant  to any
          employee  or director  incentive or  benefit plan  or arrangement
          (including any employment, severance or consulting agreement), or
          any dividend or interest reinvestment or stock  purchase plan, of
          the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation heretofore or
          hereafter adopted or (ii) in exchange solely for any other Junior
          Securities.

                    (7)  Limitation.  Anything in this paragraph (c) to the
                         ----------
          contrary notwithstanding,  the Corporation shall not  have at any
          time any right  to redeem, or any obligation to redeem, any share
          of  Series A  Preferred Stock  if, by  virtue of  the Corporation
          having  such  right or  obligation at  such  time, such  share of
          Series A Preferred Stock,  effective as of its Date  of Issuance,
          would not constitute "stock" for purposes of any of Sections 351,
          354,  355, 356 and 1036 of the  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
          amended, or any successor provisions thereto.

               (d)  Conversion.
                    ----------

                   (1)  General. The  Corporation may, at any time and from
                        -------
          time to time, convert all or any number of shares of the Series A
          Preferred  Stock into Conversion Securities.  If less than all of
          the outstanding  shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are to be
          converted,  the  Corporation  shall   select  the  shares  to  be
          converted based  on their respective  Dates of Issuance;  and, if
          less than all of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred
          Stock having  the same Date of Issuance  are to be converted, the
          Corporation  shall select the shares to be converted pro rata, by
          lot or by  any other method determined  by the Corporation  to be
          equitable.   Each  share of  Series A  Preferred Stock  to be  so
          converted shall be converted into a number of units of Conversion
          Securities computed by dividing the Liquidation Value by the Fair
          Market  Value  (as  hereinafter   defined)  for  the   Conversion
          Securities, all  as of the close  of business on  the trading day
          next preceding the date fixed  for conversion. If the  Conversion
          Securities are not  securities of the  Corporation, prior to  the
          conversion  of any  shares  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock,  the
          Corporation shall  acquire  sufficient Conversion  Securities  to
          effectuate the conversion.   The  Corporation shall  make a  cash
          payment  in lieu  of  delivering fractional  securities upon  any
          conversion, such payment to  be based upon the Fair  Market Value
          of  any fractional  securities  otherwise deliverable  as of  the
          close  of business  on the  trading day  next preceding  the date
          fixed for conversion.

                   (2)  Notice of Conversion.  Unless otherwise required by
                        --------------------
          applicable law,  notice of conversion pursuant  to this paragraph
          (d) shall  be sent to the holders of shares of Series A Preferred
          Stock to be converted at the addresses shown on the  books of the
          Corporation by first class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less
          than thirty  (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the
          conversion date. Each such notice shall state (A) the  conversion
          date, (B)  the total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
          to be  converted and, if fewer  than all the shares  held by such
          holder  are to  be converted,  the number  of such  shares to  be
          converted, (C)  the Conversion Securities into  which such shares
          are to be converted,  (D) the place or places  where certificates
          for  such shares are to be surrendered in exchange for Conversion
          Securities and (E) that  dividends on the shares to  be converted
          will cease to accrue on such conversion date. Notwithstanding the
          foregoing, the failure so  to mail any such notice  of conversion
          or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof  shall not affect
          the validity of the conversion proceedings with respect to shares
          as to  which there shall have been no such  failure or defect.  A
          notice  of conversion may be combined with a notice of redemption
          pursuant to paragraph (c).

                    Notice of  conversion having  been given  as aforesaid,
          (A) the  shares of Series  A Preferred Stock  so to be  converted
          shall, on the date fixed for  conversion, be deemed to have  been
          converted  into  Conversion  Securities in  accordance  with such
          notice  (to  the  extent that  the  same  are  securities of  the
          Corporation) or  converted into  the right to  receive Conversion
          Securities (to the extent that the same are securities of another
          Person  (as hereinafter defined)),  (B) from and  after such date
          (unless the Corporation shall have failed to set aside or acquire
          Conversion  Securities  and  moneys  to pay  accrued  and  unpaid
          dividends to the conversion date) dividends shall cease to accrue
          on  such shares and (C) all rights  of the holders of such shares
          (except only rights as  holders of Conversion Securities (to  the
          extent  the same are securities of the Corporation), the right to
          receive Conversion Securities  (to the extent  that the same  are
          securities  of another Person) and the  right to receive (without
          duplication)  an amount equal to dividends accrued thereon to the
          date fixed for such conversion) shall terminate.

                    (3)  Conversion Procedure.  Upon the surrender by a
                         --------------------
          holder  of converted  shares  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock  of
          certificates  representing  such shares  in  accordance with  the
          notice  of  conversion  on  or  after the  conversion  date,  the
          Corporation shall deliver to or upon the order of such holder:

                    (A)  whole  units of  the  Conversion  Securities  into
               which  such shares  of Series  A Preferred  Stock have  been
               converted,  certificates  representing   securities  to   be
               registered in such name or  names, and to be issued  in such
               denominations, as such holder shall have specified;

                    (B)  in   lieu  of   fractional  units   of  Conversion
               Securities resulting  from the conversion of  such shares of
               Series A Preferred  Stock, an amount equivalent to  the Fair
               Market  Value of  any  such fractional  units of  Conversion
               Securities  as of the close  of business on  the trading day
               next preceding the conversion date;

                    (C)  an  amount  equivalent   to  accrued  and   unpaid
               dividends on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock to (but
               excluding) the conversion date; and 

                    (D)  a certificate representing any shares  of Series A
               Preferred   Stock  which   had  been   represented   by  the
               certificate or certificates delivered to the  Corporation in
               connection  with   such  conversion   but  which   were  not
               converted.

                    (4)  Miscellaneous.  (A) The delivery of certificates
                         -------------
          representing Conversion Securities upon  conversion of shares  of
          Series  A Preferred  Stock shall  be made  without charge  to the
          holders of such shares  for any tax or other  governmental charge
          in respect thereof or  other cost incurred by the  Corporation in
          connection  with such  conversion,  except  that the  Corporation
          shall not  be required to pay  any such tax or  charge payable by
          reason  of the  registration of Conversion  Securities in  a name
          other  than the  name of  the holder  of the  shares of  Series A
          Preferred Stock which were so converted.

                    (B)  Anything herein to  the contrary  notwithstanding,
          upon  the conversion of shares  of Series A  Preferred Stock, the
          Corporation  shall have the right  to elect to  deliver, or cause
          the delivery  of, either  (i) authorized but  unissued Conversion
          Securities  reserved  for such  purpose  or  (ii) authorized  but
          previously issued Conversion Securities.

                    (5)  Mandatory Conversion.  Anything in this paragraph
                         --------------------
          (d) to the contrary notwithstanding, if, pursuant to subparagraph
          (7)   of  paragraph  (c),  the  Corporation  shall  not  have  an
          obligation to redeem any share of Series A Preferred Stock on the
          Scheduled Call Date  with respect  to such share,  such share  of
          Series  A Preferred Stock, to the extent  that such share has not
          been converted into Conversion Securities prior to such Scheduled
          Call  Date,  shall  be converted  automatically  into  Conversion
          Securities on such Scheduled Call Date.

               (e)  Definitions.
                    -----------

                    "Common Stock" means the Corporation's common stock,
                     ------------
          without par value.

                    "Conversion Securities" means, initially, shares of
                     ---------------------
          Common  Stock;  provided,  however,  that  if  there  shall  have
          occurred an Organic Change, then the term "Conversion Securities"
          shall mean the  class or type of stock, securities, cash or other
          assets (payable in kind) to which  the holders of Common Stock or
          other Conversion Securities outstanding immediately  prior to the
          effective time  of the  Organic  Change are  entitled to  receive
          (either directly or upon  subsequent liquidation) with respect to
          or  in  exchange  for  Common  Stock  or  such  other  Conversion
          Securities  as  a result  of  the Organic  Change;  and provided,
          further, that if, by virtue of the structure of such transaction,
          a  holder  of Common  Stock or  other  Conversion Securities   is
          required  to make an election with respect to the nature and kind
          of  consideration  to  be  received  in  such  transaction,  then
          Conversion Securities  shall mean the stock,  securities, cash or
          other assets (payable in kind) receivable in such transaction  by
          a  holder of  the  number of  shares  of  Common Stock  or  other
          Conversion  Securities into  which shares  of Series  A Preferred
          Stock  could  have  been   converted  immediately  prior  to  the
          effective time of such transaction if such holder of Common Stock
          or other Conversion  Securities failed to exercise any  rights of
          election as to the kind  or amount of stock, securities, cash  or
          other  assets   receivable  upon   such  transaction   (it  being
          understood that, if the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash
          or  other assets receivable upon such transaction is not the same
          for each non-electing share,  then the kind and amount  of stock,
          securities,   cash  or  other   property  receivable   upon  such
          transaction for each  non-electing share  shall be  the kind  and
          amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing
          shares). 

                  "Date of Issuance", as to any share of Series A Preferred
                   ----------------
          Stock, means the date  on which the Corporation initially  issues
          such   share,  irrespective   of   the  subsequent   delivery  of
          certificates  for such  share  upon registration  of transfer  or
          exchange.

                    "Dividend Payment Date", as to the Series A Preferred
                     ---------------------
          Stock, means January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.

                    "Dividend Period", as to the shares of the Series A
                     ---------------
          Preferred  Stock or any other series of the Preferred Stock or of
          any other class of stock in  either case ranking as to  dividends
          on a parity  with the Series A Preferred Stock,  means the period
          commencing  on  any dividend  payment  date  prescribed for  such
          series and ending on  the day next preceding the  next succeeding
          dividend  payment date for  such series, except  that the initial
          Dividend  Period for any particular shares of any series or class
          shall be the period  commencing on the date  or dates from  which
          dividends  on such shares shall  be cumulative and  ending on the
          day next preceding the first dividend payment date prescribed for
          such shares.

                    "Fair Market Value",  as to publicly traded shares of
                     -----------------
          Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of
          the Corporation or any other issuer which are publicly traded, as
          of  a  particular day,  means the  average  Market Price  of such
          shares or securities  over a period  of five consecutive  trading
          days ending on (and including) the trading day  as of which "Fair
          Market  Value" is being determined.   "Fair Market  Value", as to
          any  security  which  is not  publicly  traded  or  of any  other
          property, as of a particular day, means the fair value thereof as
          determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm
          experienced  in  the valuation  of  such  securities or  property
          selected in good faith by the  Board of Directors, or, if no such
          investment  banking  or  appraisal  firm is  in  the  good  faith
          judgment  of  the  Board  of  Directors available  to  make  such
          determination, as  determined  in  good  faith by  the  Board  of
          Directors.

                    "Junior Securities" means the Common Stock and (1) for
                     -----------------
          purposes  of clause (A) in subparagraph (6) of paragraphs (a) and
          (c) above, any  other class or series of stock  ranking junior to
          the Series A Preferred Stock in right  of payment of dividends or
          (2) for  all other purposes,  any other class or  series of stock
          ranking  junior to  the  Series A  Preferred  Stock in  right  of
          payment of amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or
          winding up.

                    "Liquidation Value", as to any share of Series A
                     -----------------
          Preferred Stock, means the amount of $100.

                    "Market Price", as to publicly traded shares of Common
                     ------------
          Stock or  any other class  of capital stock or  other security of
          the Corporation or any other issuer which are publicly traded, as
          of a particular day, means the last reported sales price, regular
          way, or, if no sale takes place  on such day, the average of  the
          reported  closing bid  and asked prices,  regular way,  in either
          case  as  reported  on the  Composite  Tape  for  New York  Stock
          Exchange  Transactions or,  if  such security  is  not listed  or
          admitted  to trading  on  the New  York  Stock Exchange,  on  the
          principal national securities exchange  on which such security is
          listed or  admitted to trading or,  if not listed or  admitted to
          trading  on any  national  securities exchange,  on the  National
          Market System of the  National Association of Securities Dealers,
          Inc. Automated  Quotation  System or,  if  such security  is  not
          quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing
          bid and asked prices  on such day in the  over-the-counter market
          as  reported by  NASDAQ  or, if  bid and  asked  prices for  such
          security on such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ,
          the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished
          by any New  York Stock  Exchange member firm  regularly making  a
          market in such security selected for such purpose by the Board of
          Directors.

                    "Organic Change" means any recapitalization,
                     --------------
          reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger,  sale of
          all or substantially all  of the Corporation's assets  or similar
          transaction, in each case which is effected in such a manner that
          the holders  of  Common Stock  are  entitled to  receive  (either
          directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock,  securities, cash
          or other assets  with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock.
          The  transactions  contemplated  by  the Agreement  and  Plan  of
          Merger,  dated  as  of  April  5,  1997,  among  the Corporation,
          Allegheny Power System, Inc.  and AYP Sub, Inc., if  consummated,
          would constitute  an Organic Change, and,  giving effect thereto,
          Conversion Securities would be shares of  common stock, par value
          $1.25 per share, of Allegheny Power System, Inc.  Anything herein
          to  the contrary notwithstanding, if the Corporation shall not be
          the surviving  or resulting person following  any Organic Change,
          the  Series A  Preferred Stock  shall by  virtue of  such Organic
          Change be  exchanged for,  or changed, reclassified  or converted
          into,  preferred  stock of  such  successor  or resulting  Person
          having  in respect  of such  Person, insofar as  practicable, the
          same  preferences, limitations, voting  rights and special rights
          that the Series A  Preferred Stock had immediately prior  to such
          Organic  Change except for the  change in the  type of Conversion
          Securities  into  which  such   preferred  stock  is  convertible
          effected as a result of such Organic Change.

                    "Person" means an individual, a partnership, a
                     ------
          corporation,  a limited  liability company,  a limited  liability
          partnership, an  association, a joint  stock company, a  trust, a
          joint venture,  an unincorporated organization or  a governmental
          entity   or  any  department,  agency  or  political  subdivision
          thereof. 

                  "Record Date", as to any Dividend Payment Date, means the
                   -----------
          fifteenth day  of the calendar month next preceding such Dividend
          Payment Date.

                  "Redemption Agent" means any bank or trust company having
                   ----------------
          a combined capital and  surplus of at least $2,000,000  and doing
          business  in  the  continental  United States,  selected  by  the
          Corporation in connection  with the redemption  of any shares  of
          Series A Preferred Stock.

                    "Scheduled Call Date", as to any share of Series A
                     -------------------
          Preferred   Stock,  means  the  first  day  of  the  first  month
          commencing after the sixth anniversary of the Date of Issuance of
          such share.

               (F)  Ranking; Pro Rata Sharing; Retirement.
                    -------------------------------------

                    (1)  Ranking.  The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank
                         -------
          senior to  the Common Stock as to the payment of dividends and as
          to  the distribution  of  assets on  liquidation, dissolution  or
          winding-up of the Corporation,  and, unless otherwise provided in
          the  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation, as  the  same  may be
          amended, including one or more amendments relating to one or more
          subsequent  series of  Preferred  Stock, the  Series A  Preferred
          Stock shall rank  on a parity with all  other series of Preferred
          Stock as to the payment  of dividends and as to  the distribution
          of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.

                    (2)  Pro Rata Sharing.  Except to the extent otherwise
                         ----------------
          provided in the Restated Articles  of Incorporation, as the  same
          may be amended, all payments to be made in respect  of the shares
          of Series  A Preferred  Stock and  any other  stock ranking  on a
          parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payments
          of such  character shall be  made pro rata, so  that amounts paid
          per share on the  Series A Preferred  Stock and such other  stock
          shall  in all cases  bear to each  other the same  ratio that the
          amounts then  payable per  share on  the shares  of the Series  A
          Preferred Stock and such other stock bear to each other.

                   (3)  Retirement.  Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
                        ----------
          redeemed  or  converted as  provided hereby  shall be  retired as
          shares of Series A Preferred Stock and  be restored to the status
          of   authorized   but  unissued   shares   of   Preferred  Stock,
          undesignated  as to  series, and  may thereafter  be  reissued as
          permitted by applicable law.

               (G)  Voting Rights.
                    -------------

                    (1)  General.  The holders of Series A Preferred Stock
                         -------
          shall be entitled to vote  on all matters submitted to a  vote of
          the  holders of Common Stock, voting together with the holders of
          Common Stock  as one class.   Each  share of  Series A  Preferred
          Stock  shall be entitled to three votes;  provided, however, that
          if  there is  a change in  the number  of shares  of Common Stock
          outstanding  as  a  result  of a  reclassification,  stock  split
          (including  a  reverse  split), stock  dividend  or distribution,
          recapitalization,  merger, subdivision, issuer tender or exchange
          offer, or similar transaction,  the number of votes per  share of
          Series A Preferred Stock shall be equitably adjusted.

                    (2)  No Special Rights.  Except to the extent otherwise
                         -----------------
          specifically  provided   by  applicable  law  or   set  forth  in
          subparagraph  (1) of  this  paragraph (g),  holders  of Series  A
          Preferred Stock  shall have  no special  voting rights  and their
          consent shall not  be required  for the taking  of any  corporate
          action.

               (h)  Notices.
                    -------

                    Except as otherwise  expressly provided hereunder,  all
          notices  referred  to herein  shall be  in  writing and  shall be
          sufficiently  given,  and shall  be  deemed  given, if  and  when
          mailed, first class postage  prepaid, (1) to the  Corporation, at
          its principal  executive offices and  (2) to any  shareholder, at
          such holder's address  as it appears in the stock  records of the
          Corporation (unless otherwise indicated by such holder).


                                 --------------------



                                                           Exhibit 5.1

                              DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY
                                 
                                  Legal Unit
                                  411 Seventh Avenue
                                  P.O. Box 1930
                                  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-1930
                                  Phone:  (412)  393-6000
                                  Fax:    (412)  393-6645


          DAVID R. HIGH
          Assistant General Counsel
            and General Manager


                                                           (412) 393-6443

                                             July 30, 1997

          PRIVILEDGED & CONFIDENTIAL


          DQE, Inc.
          411 Seventh Avenue
          Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

          Gentlemen/Ladies:

                    I am an Assistant General Counsel of Duquesne Light
          Company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of DQE, Inc., a
          Pennsylvania corporation ("DQE" or the "Company"), and have acted
          as counsel to the Company in connection with the proposed
          issuance by the Company from time to time of up to 1,000,000
          shares of the Company's Preferred Stock, Series A (Convertible)
          (the "Series A Preferred Stock") and an indeterminate number of
          shares of the Company's Common Stock, no par value (the "Offered
          Common Stock"), into which the Series A Preferred Stock may be
          converted, all as contemplated by the Registration Statement on
          Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") proposed to be filed by
          the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
          "SEC") on or about the date hereof for the registration of the
          Series A Preferred Stock and the Offered Common Stock under the
          Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act").

               I have examined the Restated Articles of Incorporation
          of the Company, as amended, the statement with respect to the
          Series A Preferred Stock (the "Statement") proposed to be filed
          with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
          and such other corporate records and documents and such questions
          of law as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the
          purpose of rendering this opinion.  As to various questions of
          fact, I have relied, without investigation, upon representations
          by officers and other employees of the Company.

               On the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion
          that:

          (1)  the Company is a corporation presently subsisting under 
               the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with 
               full corporate power and authority to own its properties 
               and conduct its business as described in the Registration
               Statement;

          (2)  the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of 
               Offered Common Stock will be validly issued, fully
               paid and non-assessable when:

               (a)  the Registration Statement, as it may be
                    amended, shall have become effective under the Act;

               (b)  as to shares of the Series A Preferred Stock,
                    the Statement shall have been filed with the Secretary
                    of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; 

               (c)  the Series A Preferred Stock shall have been
                    duly issued and delivered as contemplated in the
                    Registration Statement and the consideration therefor,
                    as authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company,
                    shall have been delivered to and received by the
                    Company; and

               (d)  as to shares of the Offered Common Stock, the
                    predecessor shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
                    have been converted in accordance with the terms of the
                    Statement.

               With respect to outstanding shares of Common Stock to
          be acquired in the open market for delivery, as contemplated in
          the Registration Statement, upon the conversion of shares of
          Series A Preferred Stock:

               (x)  I have necessarily assumed, as to shares heretofore 
                    issued pursuant to employee benefit plans and other 
                    offerings to employees and/or shareholders, that the
                    certificates (to the extent required) for such Common Stock
                    have been duly countersigned and registered by a transfer
                    agent and registrar and that, upon the issuance of such
                    shares, the Company received the full consideration therefor
                    authorized by the Company's Board of Directors; and

               (y)  I express no opinion as to shares of Common Stock issued 
                    subsequent to the date hereof, except authorized but
                    unissued shares issued as contemplated in clause (2) of the
                    preceding paragraph.

               In rendering their opinion to you of even date herewith, 
          Reid & Priest LLP may rely upon this letter as to all matters 
          governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
          as if this letter were addressed to them.  This letter is not
          being delivered for the benefit of, nor may it be relied upon by,
          the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock or the Offered Common
          Stock or any other party to which it is not specifically
          addressed or to which reliance has not been expressly permitted
          hereby.

               I hereby authorize and consent to the use of this
          opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the
          references to me in the Registration Statement and in the
          prospectus constituting a part thereof.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             /s/ David R. High

                                             David R. High
              


                                                           Exhibit 5.2 and 8

                            REID & PRIEST LLP
                           40 West 57th Street   
                         New York, NY  10019-4097
                          Telephone 212 603-2000
                             Fax 212 603-2001



                                                           July 30, 1997


          DQE, Inc.
          411 Seventh Avenue
          Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

          Gentlemen/Ladies:

                    We have acted as counsel to DQE, Inc., a Pennsylvania
          corporation ("DQE" or the "Company"), in connection with the
          proposed issuance by the Company from time to time of up to
          1,000,000 shares of the Company's Preferred Stock, Series A
          (Convertible) (the "Series A Preferred Stock") and an
          indeterminate number of shares of the Company's Common Stock, no
          par value (the "Offered Common Stock"), into which the Series A
          Preferred Stock may be converted, all as contemplated by the
          Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement")
          proposed to be filed by the Company with the Securities and
          Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on or about the date hereof for
          the registration of the Series A Preferred Stock and the Offered
          Common Stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
          "Act").

                    We have examined the Restated Articles of Incorporation
          of the Company, as amended, the statement with respect to the
          Series A Preferred Stock (the "Statement") proposed to be filed
          with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
          and such other corporate records and documents and such questions
          of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the
          purpose of rendering this opinion.  As to various questions of
          fact, we have relied, without investigation, upon representations
          by officers and other employees of the Company.

                    On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion
          that:

                    (1)  the Company is a corporation presently subsisting
               under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with full
               corporate power and authority to own its properties and 
               conduct its business as described in the Registration 
               Statement;

                    (2)  the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the
               shares of Offered Common Stock will be validly issued, fully
               paid and non-assessable when:

                         (a)  the Registration Statement, as it may be
                    amended, shall have become effective under the Act;

                         (b)  as to shares of the Series A Preferred Stock,
                    the Statement shall have been filed with the Secretary
                    of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; 

                         (c)  the Series A Preferred Stock shall have been
                    duly issued and delivered as contemplated in the
                    Registration Statement and the consideration therefor,
                    as authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company,
                    shall have been delivered to and received by the
                    Company; and

                         (d)  as to shares of the Offered Common Stock, the
                    predecessor shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
                    have been converted in accordance with the terms of the
                    Statement.

                    The foregoing opinions are based on, among other
          things, the assumption that all shares of Offered Common Stock
          delivered upon the conversion of shares of Series A Preferred
          Stock will be either (i) authorized but theretofore unissued
          shares or (ii) previously issued shares of Common Stock which
          were initially issued upon the conversion of other shares of
          Series A Preferred Stock, and we express no opinion as to shares
          of Common Stock outstanding at the date hereof.

                    We are further of the opinion that the statements
          contained under "DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK - Preferred Stock -
          Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations" in the prospectus
          included in the Registration Statement constitute a fair
          description, in general terms, of certain tax considerations that
          may be relevant to a holder of shares of Series A Preferred
          Stock.

                    We are members of the New York Bar and do not hold
          ourselves out as experts on the laws of the Commonwealth of
          Pennsylvania.  Accordingly, we have relied with your approval as
          to all matters of Pennsylvania law upon the opinion of even date
          herewith addressed to you by David R. High, Esq., Assistant
          General Counsel of Duquesne Light Company, which is being filed
          as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. 

                    This letter is not being delivered for the benefit of,
          nor may it be relied upon by, the holders of the Series A
          Preferred Stock or the Offered Common Stock or any other party to
          which it is not specifically addressed.

                    We hereby authorize and consent to the use of this
          opinion as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement and to the
          references to us in the Registration Statement and in the
          prospectus constituting a part thereof.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             /s/ Reid & Priest LLP

                                             REID & PRIEST LLP




                                                           EXHIBIT 12.1


              CALCULATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
                     AND PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE STOCK DIVIDENDS
                                (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)


                             THREE
                             MONTHS
                             ENDED
                             MARCH
                              31,         TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                            ------   ------------------------------------------

                             1997     1996     1995     1994     1993     1992
                            ------   ------   ------   ------   ------   ------
     FIXED CHARGES:

       Interest 
       on long-term 
       debt  . . . . . . .$ 21,782 $ 88,478 $ 95,391 $101,027 $108,479 $123,402

       Other interest  . .   3,279   10,926    7,033    4,050    2,718    1,767

       Portion of lease
        payments
        representing 
        an interest 
        factor   . . . . .  11,208   44,357   44,386   44,839   45,925   60,721

       Dividend 
       requirement . . . .   4,703   14,385    7,374    9,355   14,368   17,940
                           -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------

          Total 
          Fixed 
          Charges . . . . $ 40,972 $158,146 $154,184 $159,271 $171,490 $203,830
                          -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------



     EARNINGS:

       Income from 
       continuing
       operations . . . . $ 45,097 $179,138 $170,563 $156,816 $141,407 $141,518

       Income taxes . . .   21,541   87,388   96,661   92,973   79,822  111,934

       Fixed Charges 
       as above . . . . .   40,972  158,146  154,184  159,271  171,490  203,830
                          -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

          Total 
          Earnings  . . . $107,610 $424,672 $421,408 $409,060 $392,719 $457,282
                          -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------


     RATIO OF EARNINGS TO
      COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
      AND PREFERRED AND
      PREFERENCE STOCK
      DIVIDENDS . . . . .     2.63     2.69     2.73     2.57     2.29     2.24
                          ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========


               The Company's share of the fixed charges of an unaffiliated
          coal supplier, which amounted to approximately $0.7 million for
          the three months ended March 31, 1997, has been excluded from the
          ratio.

               *Earnings related to income taxes reflect a $3.0 million
          decrease for the three months ended March 31, 1997, a $12
          million, $13.5 million, $13.5 million and $10.4 million decrease
          for the twelve months ended December 31, 1996, 1995, 1994 and
          1993, respectively, due to financial statement reclassification
          related to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109,
          Accounting for Income Taxes.  The ratio of earnings to fixed
          charges, absent this reclassification, equals 2.70 for the three
          months ended March 31, 1997, and 2.76, 2.82, 2.65 and 2.35 for
          the twelve months ended December 31, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993,
          respectively.




                                                           EXHIBIT 23.3


     INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration 
     Statement of DQE, Inc. on Form S-4 of our report dated January 28, 
     1997, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of DQE, Inc. for  
     the year ended December 31, 1996  and  to the  reference  to  us 
     under  the  heading  "Experts" in  the Prospectus, which is part of 
     this Registration Statement.


     /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

     DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

     Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
     July 30, 1997




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