<ARTICLE>  UT
<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>               2,347,826
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>               327,330
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                    183,779
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  199,753
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          3,058,688
<COMMON>                                  449,697
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  (1,665)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                       412,890
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>            866,007
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0
<PREFERRED>                                89,062
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                      934,767
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          1,400
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>              63,513
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>          1,109,024
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>           3,058,688
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                 410,164
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       22,366
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                322,835
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                345,201
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                    64,963
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        (22,115)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>             42,848
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   33,851
<NET-INCOME>                                8,997
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                 1,914
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               7,083
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   50,136
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  32,144
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                     73,042
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0.11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0.11