<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 711933 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 137314 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 146142 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 167778 <OTHER-ASSETS> 79930 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1243097 <COMMON> 102180 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 217398 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 51566 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 371144 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27323 <PREFERRED> 6901 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 380643 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 56105 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 47515 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 353466 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1243097 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 280609 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 6649 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 246427 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 253076 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 27533 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 9401 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 36934 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19369 <NET-INCOME> 17565 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1153 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 16412 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 16962 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 16412 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 42441 <EPS-PRIMARY> .80 <EPS-DILUTED> 0