<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,678,748
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     31,253
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         145,129
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       415,253
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,270,383
<COMMON>                                        94,031
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      358,676
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            226,465
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 679,172
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    132,021
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           696,894
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       13,349
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  33,016
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       68
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 715,863
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,270,383
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      436,665
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            41,891
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     289,654
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     331,545
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        105,120
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              10,029
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 115,149
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        42,755
<NET-INCOME>                                    72,394
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      5,832
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   66,562
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        69,925
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         135,690
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.77