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

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,938,432
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    146,204
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         287,963
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 644,175
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,016,774
<COMMON>                                       462,250
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      812,008
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            546,773
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,781,466
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    134,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,455,362
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  44,400
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   35,156
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,540,950
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,016,774
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,551,336
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            91,924
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     267,022
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,220,240
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        331,096
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (12,512)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        90,131
<NET-INCOME>                                   136,529
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,015
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  129,514
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        71,870
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         405,441
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.89
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.89