<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,934,955
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    130,817
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         350,559
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       204,967
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,621,298
<COMMON>                                        48,106
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      686,604
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            256,448
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 991,158
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           92,000
<PREFERRED>                                    123,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,060,130
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              60,060
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 142,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  100,267
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,050,683
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,621,298
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      387,849
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,895
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     320,861
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     335,756
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         52,093
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 640
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  52,733
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        27,530
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,203
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,890
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   21,313
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        22,615
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          72,039
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0