<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,987,432
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    366,799
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         356,715
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        93,430
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 279,870
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,084,246
<COMMON>                                       291,458
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      566,234
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            480,195
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,337,887
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                     78,475
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,175,734
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               1,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       52
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     96,492
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 6,670
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,362,936
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,084,246
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      986,528
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            99,895
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     745,481
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     845,376
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        141,152
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (280)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 140,872
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        44,040
<NET-INCOME>                                    96,832
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,291
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   93,541
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       160,406
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       35,933
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         266,470
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0