<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 695558 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 134344 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 146539 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 244973 <OTHER-ASSETS> 62827 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1284241 <COMMON> 102180 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 214568 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 56529 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 373277 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27904 <PREFERRED> 6900 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 312400 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 118652 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 21845 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 423263 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1284241 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 405385 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 14086 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 344814 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 358900 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 46485 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 9172 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 55657 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27727 <NET-INCOME> 27930 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1729 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 26201 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 25443 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 21726 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 68683 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.28 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.28