<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,953,904
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     69,289
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         250,801
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       294,547
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,568,541
<COMMON>                                       638,886
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (505,598)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 133,288
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,223,025
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               3,567
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,635
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    895,867
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                10,383
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 300,776
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,568,541
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      715,873
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,795
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     588,512
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     598,307
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        117,566
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             105,959
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 223,525
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       102,673
<NET-INCOME>                                   120,852
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  120,852
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       60,364
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         151,267
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.76
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.76