<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,100,188
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    305,418
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         409,345
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       129,310
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 369,472
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,313,733
<COMMON>                                       291,458
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      566,233
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            541,682
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,399,373
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                     78,475
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,206,441
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   25,047
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     83,066
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 8,568
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,487,763
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,313,733
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,403,648
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           164,406
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,003,402
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,167,808
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        235,840
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,884
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 240,724
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        69,853
<NET-INCOME>                                   170,871
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,937
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  165,934
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       136,381
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       57,438
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         414,962
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0