<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 710738 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 132761 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 146862 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 204626 <OTHER-ASSETS> 75984 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1270791 <COMMON> 102180 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 217476 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 53906 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 373562 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27468 <PREFERRED> 6900 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 334842 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 57439 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 72517 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 398063 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1270791 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 422635 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 9893 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 369313 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 379206 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 43429 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 15287 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 58716 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 29609 <NET-INCOME> 29107 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1729 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 27378 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 25443 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 24460 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 90947 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.245 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.245