<ARTICLE> UT                                   EXHIBIT 27
<LEGEND>

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

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,982,364
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     99,221
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         358,769
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 619,327
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,059,681
<COMMON>                                       464,469
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      816,384
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            489,129
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,769,982
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    134,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,480,814
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 129,300
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   83,488
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,436,657
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,059,681
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,059,371
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           107,943
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     342,455
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,601,828
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        457,543
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (48,630) 
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       122,729
<NET-INCOME>                                   178,241
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      9,530
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  168,711
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        99,611
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         459,032
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.37