<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's Consolidated Statement of Earnings, Consolidated Balance Sheets and
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the period ended September 30, 1994
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1994
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,682,180
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     35,521
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         273,276
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       175,889
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,166,866
<COMMON>                                       208,870
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      467,682
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                           (60,604)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 615,948
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           17,975
<PREFERRED>                                     59,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           888,212
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   16,075
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 569,656
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,166,866
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      683,784
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            34,010
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     527,922
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     565,357
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        118,427
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 113
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 118,540
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        53,400
<NET-INCOME>                                    65,140
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,895
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   60,245
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       48,027
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         144,876
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.44