<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>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,716,927
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     50,681
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         217,121
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       420,703
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,405,432
<COMMON>                                        94,031
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      358,488
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            259,299
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 711,818
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    106,697
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           686,107
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       17,577
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  57,516
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   30,072
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 795,645
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,405,432
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      748,503
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            46,472
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     563,754
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     610,226
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        138,277
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              14,255
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 152,532
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        60,258
<NET-INCOME>                                    92,274
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      5,176
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   87,098
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        69,887
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       53,215
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         173,397
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.32