<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