<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,048,546 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 136,419 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 434,898 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 92,248 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,712,111 <COMMON> 85,474 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 242,000 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 192,341 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 519,815 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 558,215 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 74,785 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 16,671 <LEASES-CURRENT> 392 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 542,233 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,712,111 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 983,832 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 8,157 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 954,202 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 962,359 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 21,473 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (247) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 21,226 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,255 <NET-INCOME> 8,971 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 8,971 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 7,255 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 38,299 <EPS-PRIMARY> 8,971 <EPS-DILUTED> 8,971