<ARTICLE>  UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                           Mar-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                             PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>               2,362,498
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>               188,059
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                    142,563
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  183,331
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          2,876,451
<COMMON>                                  449,697
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  (1,714)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                       449,377
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>            897,360
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       1,276
<PREFERRED>                                89,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                      841,040
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          3,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              7,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>              80,303
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>            957,472
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>           2,876,451
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                 206,624
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       13,413
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                158,267
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                171,680
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                    34,944
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                          3,837
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>             38,781
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   14,258
<NET-INCOME>                               24,523
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   957
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>              23,566
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   24,142
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  13,424
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                     72,125
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0.38