<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