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

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,961,684
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    107,953
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         302,079
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 676,776
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,048,492
<COMMON>                                       471,359
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      831,852
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            468,406
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,771,617
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    134,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,508,006
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  60,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   57,553
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,491,376
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,048,492
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,528,265
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           101,568
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,182,703
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,284,271
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        243,994
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (21,369)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 222,625
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        92,015
<NET-INCOME>                                   130,610
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,155
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  123,455
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        75,078
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       81,417
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         390,686
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.73