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

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,922,272
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    143,449
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         356,213
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 606,747
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,028,681
<COMMON>                                       462,250
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      811,648
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            568,844
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,803,295
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    134,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,450,224
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  58,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   38,240
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,519,482
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,028,681
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,129,989
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           117,713
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     364,219
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,687,321
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        442,668
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (17,203) 
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       123,199
<NET-INCOME>                                   184,553
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      9,342
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  175,211
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        95,496
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         456,243
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.57