<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 1997 FORM 10-Q
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      2121025
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     165781
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          311978
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        259457
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  137048
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2995289
<COMMON>                                        137665
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       515283
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             294794
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  942997
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            70000
<PREFERRED>                                      89703
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            950159
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               33077
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    27547
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      19546
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 12623
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  849637
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  2995289
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       346079
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             17965
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      282929
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      300894
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          45185
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                1531
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   46716
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         20923
<NET-INCOME>                                     25793
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       1215
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    24578
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         23457
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           72033
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.40