<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, 1999, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 2,142,587 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 65,144 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 643,738 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 0 <OTHER-ASSETS> 265,393 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,116,862 <COMMON> 430,057 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 170,480 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 33,654 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 634,191 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 25,000 <PREFERRED> 10,131 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 1,363,852 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 486 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,083,202 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 3,116,862 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,567,075 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 212,760 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 185,777 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,079,835 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 487,240 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 2,391 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 0 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 97,960 <NET-INCOME> 178,911 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 2,214 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 176,697 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 173,326 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 364,390 <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0