<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Consolidated Balance Sheets and
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the period ended March 31, 1995 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,694,842
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     34,040
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         233,721
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       166,858
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,129,461
<COMMON>                                       208,870
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      468,602
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                           (29,360)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 648,112
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           17,975
<PREFERRED>                                     59,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           746,839
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              65,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   35,869
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 556,666
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,129,461
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      230,235
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            10,693
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     186,843
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     196,504
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         33,731
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,575
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  35,306
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        17,122
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,184
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,538
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   16,646
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       14,791
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          34,976
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0