<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-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,701,374
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     37,101
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         144,992
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       417,818
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,301,285
<COMMON>                                        94,031
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      357,865
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            236,129
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 688,025
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    106,924
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           716,239
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       22,243
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  41,593
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       71
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 726,190
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,301,285
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      155,447
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,361
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      96,374
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     112,735
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         42,712
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,389
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  46,101
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,721
<NET-INCOME>                                    30,380
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,394
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   28,986
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        34,943
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          70,246
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.77