<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