<ARTICLE>  UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      Dec-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                           Sep-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                             PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>               2,480,754
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>               317,508
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                    341,308
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  221,829
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          3,361,399
<COMMON>                                  449,697
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  (1,668)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                       479,702
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>            927,731
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          62
<PREFERRED>                                39,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                      926,943
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>            222,125
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>              73,957
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>          1,171,581
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>           3,361,399
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                 742,737
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       48,829
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                574,992
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                623,821
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   118,916
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                         46,792
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>            165,708
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   56,775
<NET-INCOME>                              139,006
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                 1,236
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             137,770
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   77,020
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  45,544
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    221,446
<EPS-BASIC>                                2.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                2.23