<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATIONE EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
RETAINED EARNINGS AND OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,221,982
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     15,757
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         296,229
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       428,141
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,962,109
<COMMON>                                       181,333
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      828,793
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            430,079
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,440,205
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           41,253
<PREFERRED>                                     26,027
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,279,565
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              98,600
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   42,755
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,432
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,031,272
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,962,109
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      337,461
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            28,223
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     235,693
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     263,916
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         73,545
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,650
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  75,195
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        24,858
<NET-INCOME>                                    50,337
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    (1,343)
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   48,994
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        34,400
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          80,890
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0