<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 JUNE 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,956,889
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    111,477
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         333,427
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 685,329
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,087,122
<COMMON>                                       476,686
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      843,923
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            482,189
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,802,798
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    134,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,532,952
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  82,400
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   36,442
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        6,060
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,467,030
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,087,122
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,071,697
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            81,929
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     800,420
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     882,349
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        189,348
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (7,476)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 181,872
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        62,314
<NET-INCOME>                                   119,558
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,719
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  114,839
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        50,052
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       54,473
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         261,133
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.61