<ARTICLE>  UT
<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>               2,339,362
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>               306,419
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                    137,887
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  189,918
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          2,973,586
<COMMON>                                  449,697
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  (1,666)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                       414,774
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>            864,486
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          62
<PREFERRED>                                89,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                      925,136
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          1,361
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              8,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>              71,091
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>          1,014,450
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>           2,973,586
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                 194,744
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        8,530
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                158,125
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                166,655
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                    28,089
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (27,775)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                314
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   15,446
<NET-INCOME>                              (15,132)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   955
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>             (16,087)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   25,068
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  14,516
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                     10,084
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               (0.26)
<EPS-DILUTED>                               (0.26)