<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,947,254
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     70,443
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         213,820
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       291,340
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,522,857
<COMMON>                                       638,908
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          (494,106)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 144,802
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,192,025
<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>                    892,570
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                15,833
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 272,425
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,522,857
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      154,281
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (2,348)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     135,839
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     133,491
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         20,790
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              15,304
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  36,094
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        24,602
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,492
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,492
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          26,977
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.36