<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,935,328
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    149,360
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         394,496
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       191,222
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,670,406
<COMMON>                                        48,376
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      692,752
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            311,310
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,052,438
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           88,000
<PREFERRED>                                    123,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,058,676
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             115,175
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 126,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  101,067
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,004,050
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,670,406
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,275,573
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            81,431
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     981,465
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,062,896
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        212,677
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,489
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 214,166
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        81,025
<NET-INCOME>                                   133,141
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     11,548
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  121,593
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        68,083
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         214,989
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0