<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,821,849
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    208,600
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         276,998
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       269,466
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,576,913
<COMMON>                                        48,515
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      696,363
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            325,783
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,070,661
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           78,250
<PREFERRED>                                     83,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           957,039
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             108,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  90,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  100,267
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,086,696
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,576,913
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      394,555
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,814
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     328,132
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     343,946
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         50,609
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (2,788)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  47,821
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        24,962
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,859
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,919
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   19,940
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        22,802
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         104,902
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.41