<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary finanical information extracted from the
Company's Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Consolidated Balance Sheets and
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the period ended December 31, 1995 and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,574,434
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     33,433
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         289,911
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       137,891
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,035,669
<COMMON>                                       208,870
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      468,735
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             25,243
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 702,848
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     12,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           728,843
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      146
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 591,032
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,035,669
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      808,465
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            50,793
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     664,883
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     695,077
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        113,388
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              20,108
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 133,496
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        57,934
<NET-INCOME>                                    75,562
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,714
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   71,848
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       38,422
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         147,075
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0