<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
AND RETAINED EARNINGS AND OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,160,024
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     11,729
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         287,305
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       407,755
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,866,813
<COMMON>                                       181,333
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      800,299
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            418,349
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,399,981
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           43,354
<PREFERRED>                                     26,027
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,274,619
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              64,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   36,363
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,453
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,020,016
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,866,813
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      364,570
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            39,738
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     234,597
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     274,335
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         90,235
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 682
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  90,917
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        24,795
<NET-INCOME>                                    66,122
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    (1,351)
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   64,771
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        34,200
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         258,656
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0