<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
    THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
           THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME
                  FROM THE COMPANY'S 1ST QUARTER 1996 10-Q
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,228,612
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    135,901
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         255,597
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       255,222
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,875,332
<COMMON>                                       136,717
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      503,883
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            291,244
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 931,844
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    168,085
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           853,585
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              52,615
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,507
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     20,330
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                12,590
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 834,776
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,875,332
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      292,630
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            22,716
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     219,354
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     242,070
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         50,560
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,196
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  52,756
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        17,613
<NET-INCOME>                                    35,143
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,440
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   32,703
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        23,322
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          79,599
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.54