<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 JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,784,098
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     98,005
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         332,627
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 548,408
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,763,138
<COMMON>                                       430,057
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      429,740
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             41,189
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 900,986
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    104,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,441,163
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  70,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    2,023
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       30,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,189,526
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,763,138
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,086,535
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            72,177
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     140,559
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     836,058
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        250,477
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (3,428)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        60,266
<NET-INCOME>                                   114,606
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,529
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  110,077
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       120,391
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         305,433
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0