<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,959,904
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     60,965
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         242,482
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       264,820
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,528,171
<COMMON>                                       638,854
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (513,244)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 125,610
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,224,160
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               3,567
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,200
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    894,106
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                10,289
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 269,239
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,528,171
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      555,639
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            12,934
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     445,861
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     458,795
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         96,844
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              93,715
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 190,559
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        77,353
<NET-INCOME>                                   113,206
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  113,206
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          99,369
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.52