<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-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,705,681
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     39,926
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         175,678
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       413,134
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,334,419
<COMMON>                                        94,031
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      357,887
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            255,505
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 707,423
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    106,870
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           716,263
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       22,297
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  61,516
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       71
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 719,979
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,334,419
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      166,975
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,126
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     125,197
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     134,323
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         32,652
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,254
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  34,906
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,864
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,042
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        665
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   19,377
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          80,533
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.52