<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from (balance
sheets, income statements and cash flow statements) and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,670,578
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     31,720
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         151,029
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       393,175
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,246,502
<COMMON>                                        94,031
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      358,643
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            223,125
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 675,798
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    132,150
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           659,191
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               1,016
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       23,383
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  34,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   20,517
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 700,447
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,246,502
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      146,629
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            17,466
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      88,139
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     105,605
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         41,024
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,341
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  44,365
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,153
<NET-INCOME>                                    30,211
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,952
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   28,259
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        34,962
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          57,025
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.75