<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      6919730
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     263290
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         1086101
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       1171468
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   74421
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 9515010
<COMMON>                                        144391
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      1781394
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             751105
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 2676890
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            86730
<PREFERRED>                                     440000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           3478628
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    44784
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                         8870
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 2779108
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  9515010
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      1163832
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             72639
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      931895
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     1004534
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         159298
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               11262
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  170560
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         67538
<NET-INCOME>                                    103022
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       9399
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    93623
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          231118
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.65
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0