<ARTICLE>  UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                           Mar-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                             PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>               2,313,939
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>               366,821
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                    142,642
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  182,850
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          3,006,252
<COMMON>                                  449,697
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  (1,664)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                       416,678
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>            868,833
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          62
<PREFERRED>                                89,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                      941,412
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          1,495
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              2,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>              23,168
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>          1,084,404
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>           3,006,252
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                 195,635
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        8,237
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                157,468
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                165,705
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                    29,930
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                          3,003
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>             32,933
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   18,567
<NET-INCOME>                               14,366
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   990
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>              13,376
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   25,059
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  14,939
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                     56,165
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0.22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0.22