<ARTICLE> UT                                       EXHIBIT 27
<LEGEND>

THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN ITS FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,955,104
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    104,648
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         380,212
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 702,183
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,142,147
<COMMON>                                       476,686
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      842,656
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            489,769
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,809,111
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    140,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,520,651
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  68,300
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   74,277
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,504,308
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,142,147
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      618,764
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            61,890
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     422,411
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     484,301
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        134,463
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (3,675)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 130,788
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        32,112
<NET-INCOME>                                    98,676
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,333
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   96,343
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        25,026
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       27,700
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         157,953
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.35