<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,927,877
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    176,328
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         360,378
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       238,175
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,702,758
<COMMON>                                        48,515
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      695,885
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            290,832
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,035,232
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           77,779
<PREFERRED>                                     83,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,057,242
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             221,290
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  65,600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  101,467
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,059,148
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,702,758
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      849,460
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            33,188
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     708,197
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     741,385
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        108,075
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 442
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 108,517
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        53,602
<NET-INCOME>                                    54,915
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,311
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   47,604
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        45,604
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          91,105
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0