<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SECTION OF THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      677,607
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     63,326
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          95,373
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        45,881
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  60,430
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 942,617
<COMMON>                                        47,091
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      172,136
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            121,215
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 340,442
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           38,778
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           279,919
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  15,559
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   21,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,062
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 245,857
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  942,617
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      137,561
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,562
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      94,628
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     110,190
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         27,371
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,481
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  29,852
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         6,496
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,356
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        691
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   22,665
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,675
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          54,537
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $1.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $1.49