<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 608021 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 113611 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 132487 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 573292 <OTHER-ASSETS> 53618 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1481029 <COMMON> 102180 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 216348 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 39479 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 358007 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 28268 <PREFERRED> 6900 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 127318 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 117468 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 62530 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 780538 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1481029 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 414043 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 13757 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 358505 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 372262 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 41781 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (6952) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 34829 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24370 <NET-INCOME> 10459 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1729 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 8730 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 25443 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 17783 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 57931 <EPS-BASIC> .43 <EPS-DILUTED> .43