<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,677,439
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     31,258
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         155,049
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       390,147
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,253,893
<COMMON>                                        94,031
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      358,636
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            244,231
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 696,898
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    132,110
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           659,264
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               2,516
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       22,366
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  62,600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      517
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 677,622
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,253,893
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      287,013
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            30,294
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     181,782
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     212,076
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         74,937
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,454
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  81,391
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        28,148
<NET-INCOME>                                    53,243
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,878
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   49,365
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        34,962
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          93,381
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.31