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

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,769,304
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     58,924
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         361,134
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 551,198
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,740,560
<COMMON>                                       430,057
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      430,114
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             42,878
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 903,049
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    104,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,414,297
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  59,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,090
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,232,784
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,740,560
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,531,851
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           101,637
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     213,636
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,177,762
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        354,089
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (6,193)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        89,851
<NET-INCOME>                                   156,408
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      6,880
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  149,528
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       158,153
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         399,598
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0