<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,052,412 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 136,761 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 498,808 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 87,313 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,775,294 <COMMON> 85,474 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 242,000 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 183,028 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 510,502 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 558,187 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 108,087 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 16,775 <LEASES-CURRENT> 384 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 581,359 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,775,294 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 546,785 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 28,889 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 424,235 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 453,124 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 93,661 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (4,854) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 88,807 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 45,662 <NET-INCOME> 43,145 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 43,145 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 29,450 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 96,301 <EPS-PRIMARY> 43,145 <EPS-DILUTED> 43,145