<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM (UNAUDITIED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30,
1998) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                    SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                       PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                        $6,275,260
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        $269,636
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                             $842,968
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                           $403,291
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                     $570,777
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   $8,361,932
<COMMON>                                         $1,217,911
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            ($790)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              $1,740,043
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   $2,957,164
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    $0
<PREFERRED>                                         $59,376
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             $2,535,409
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                       $0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                $0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                           $0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       $73,172
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                $0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                              $0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                         $0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                   $2,736,811
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                    $8,361,932
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                        $2,434,635
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                               $256,621
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       $1,692,125
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       $1,948,746
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                            $485,889
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                ($15,194)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                     $470,695
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           $132,631
<NET-INCOME>                                       $338,064
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        ($2,225)
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                      $335,839
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           $209,676
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                           $98,375
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                             $733,934
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          2.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          2.33