<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
    THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
          THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME
               FROM THE COMPANY'S 3RD QUARTER 1996 FORM 10-Q
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,243,134
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    142,299
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         259,290
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       253,388
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,898,111
<COMMON>                                       136,717
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      506,680
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            299,108
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 936,661
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    168,085
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           827,242
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              81,187
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   27,244
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     21,711
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                12,456
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 823,525
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,898,111
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      834,579
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            62,547
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     628,686
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     691,233
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        143,346
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,661
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 146,007
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        51,504
<NET-INCOME>                                    94,503
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,293
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   87,210
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        69,965
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         177,663
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $1.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $1.44