<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
                                                              EXHIBIT 27

THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN ITS FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
JUNE 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,117,410
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     70,078
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         187,375
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 448,636
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,823,499
<COMMON>                                       430,057
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      170,678
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             43,185
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 643,463
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     10,159
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,210,712
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              34,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      529
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 924,636
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,823,499
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,071,007
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            62,161
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     117,203
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     820,116
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        250,891
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (399)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        50,175
<NET-INCOME>                                   138,156
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        198
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  137,958
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       121,504
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         179,962
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0