<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, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,916,971
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    143,026
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         361,180
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 564,030
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,985,207
<COMMON>                                       442,250
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      717,836
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            621,387
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,742,030
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    134,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,449,209
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 105,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    7,984
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,521,544
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,985,207
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      627,232
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            45,344
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      73,168
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     470,090
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        157,142
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (2,722)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        30,636
<NET-INCOME>                                    78,440
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,269
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   76,171
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        23,628
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         171,187
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.15