<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's Consolidated Statement of Earnings, Consolidated Balance Sheets and
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the period ended March 31, 1997 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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,553,346
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    272,973
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         269,663
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       132,909
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,228,891
<COMMON>                                       208,870
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      468,479
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             94,833
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 772,182
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     12,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           714,326
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             123,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   14,970
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 591,613
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,228,891
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      298,822
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,794
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     248,932
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     262,129
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         36,693
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,437
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  39,130
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,234
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,896
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        147
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   24,749
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,013
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,123
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          40,313
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.59