<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