<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   18,809,197
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,927,966
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       2,370,353
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,542,199
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              25,649,715
<COMMON>                                     2,051,994
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    3,755,008
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,687,020
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               8,494,022
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          437,500
<PREFERRED>                                    402,056
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         7,965,248
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  254,178
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               8,096,711
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               25,649,715
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    6,909,286
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           376,186
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,522,671
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,522,671
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      1,386,615
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              90,688
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,477,303
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       494,938
<NET-INCOME>                                   606,179
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     24,835
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  581,344
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       607,237
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       2,133,265
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.41