<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