<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
   THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
          THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME
               FROM THE COMPANY'S 2ND QUARTER 1996 FORM 10-Q
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,231,871
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    135,922
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         258,273
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       256,326
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,882,392
<COMMON>                                       136,717
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      504,101
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            287,824
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 928,642
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    168,085
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           853,269
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              93,843
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,522
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     19,234
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                12,583
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 805,214
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,882,392
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      543,223
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            37,366
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     416,774
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     454,140
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         89,083
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,823
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  91,906
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        34,438
<NET-INCOME>                                    57,468
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,863
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   52,605
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        46,644
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          99,010
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.87