<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 698073 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 137873 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 145848 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 240995 <OTHER-ASSETS> 62296 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1285085 <COMMON> 102180 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 214158 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 55889 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 372227 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27813 <PREFERRED> 6900 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 324103 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 87244 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 52457 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 414341 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1285085 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 269352 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 9672 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 228657 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 238329 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 31023 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 5741 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 36764 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18622 <NET-INCOME> 18142 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1153 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 16989 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 16962 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 15134 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 45878 <EPS-PRIMARY> .83 <EPS-DILUTED> .83