<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 716630 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 142926 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 140559 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 168148 <OTHER-ASSETS> 77601 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1245864 <COMMON> 102180 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 217315 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 54257 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 373752 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27179 <PREFERRED> 6900 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 403336 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 47172 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 27514 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 360011 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1245864 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 141753 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 4219 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 121328 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 125547 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 16206 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 4429 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 20635 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9580 <NET-INCOME> 11055 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 576 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 10479 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 8482 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 8226 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 27880 <EPS-PRIMARY> .51 <EPS-DILUTED> 0