<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                       718173
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     153899
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          136474
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        124230
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   67422
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1200198
<COMMON>                                        102184
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       216936
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              59160
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  378280
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            26458
<PREFERRED>                                       6938
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            431873
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        42521
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    19508
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           50
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  294570
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  1200198
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       134800
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              4998
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      111521
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      116519
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          18281
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                3368
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   21649
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          9723
<NET-INCOME>                                     11926
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        578
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    11348
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          8175
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                         8649
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           32760
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0