<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,950,272
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    388,158
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         391,605
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        94,180
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 274,754
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,098,969
<COMMON>                                       291,458
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      566,233
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            499,158
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,356,849
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                     78,475
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,126,553
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       52
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     91,598
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 6,696
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,413,746
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,098,969
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,552,825
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           161,102
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,164,577
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,325,679
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        227,146
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (297)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 226,849
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        65,098
<NET-INCOME>                                   161,751
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,937
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  156,814
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       206,362
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       53,226
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         432,873
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0