<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      6953147
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     207910
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          993318
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       1245868
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   76741
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 9476984
<COMMON>                                        144365
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      1784473
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             692811
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 2621649
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            86730
<PREFERRED>                                     440000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           3476926
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    93083
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        12470
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 2746126
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  9476984
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      3019547
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             79728
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     2615041
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     2694769
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         324778
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               20635
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  345413
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        209215
<NET-INCOME>                                    136198
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      28760
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   107438
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          578227
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0