<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 720855 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 150388 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 139323 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 121216 <OTHER-ASSETS> 70326 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1202108 <COMMON> 102180 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 217175 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 53298 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 372653 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 26928 <PREFERRED> 6900 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 423373 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 52571 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 12511 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 50 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 307122 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1202108 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 388661 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 8173 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 338855 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 347028 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 41633 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 12200 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 53833 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 29219 <NET-INCOME> 24614 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1735 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 22879 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 25137 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 25707 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 85421 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.12 <EPS-DILUTED> 0