<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,941,469 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 70,999 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 237,290 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 334,161 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,583,919 <COMMON> 638,873 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> (464,205) <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 174,668 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 1,204,967 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 500 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 892,020 <LEASES-CURRENT> 16,427 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 295,337 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,583,919 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 337,251 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 1,912 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 280,719 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 282,631 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 54,620 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 38,561 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 93,181 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 51,788 <NET-INCOME> 41,393 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 41,393 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 17,424 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.29 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.29