<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, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,962,788
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     97,668
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         360,085
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 660,842
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,081,383
<COMMON>                                       462,250
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      811,576
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            544,522
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,818,348
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    134,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,481,360
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  62,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   34,843
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,524,892
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,081,383
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      588,137
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            50,156
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      79,561
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     420,610
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        167,527
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (4,768)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        30,626
<NET-INCOME>                                    81,977
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,315
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   79,662
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        24,269
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         154,840
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.15