<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,928,146
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    145,278
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         378,221
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       197,119
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,648,764
<COMMON>                                        48,240
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      689,757
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            257,881
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 995,878
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           88,000
<PREFERRED>                                    123,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,058,685
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             121,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 141,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  101,467
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,017,234
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,648,764
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      777,605
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            31,909
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     638,371
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     670,280
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        107,325
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 838
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 108,163
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        55,033
<NET-INCOME>                                    53,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,707
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   45,423
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        45,291
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         103,802
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.94
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0