<ARTICLE>  UT
       
                                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                           12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                       DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                            5,401,974
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                            122,438
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 453,113
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                33,315
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                         791,445
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       6,802,285
<COMMON>                                                               510,619
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              716,879
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                  1,159,956
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                       2,387,454
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                            155,197
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                 1,757,100
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                      21,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                             89,382
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                        28,797
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                       2,363,055
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                        6,802,285
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                            2,287,333
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                   192,766
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           1,645,740
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           1,838,506
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                448,827
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                      11,795
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                         460,622
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                               132,000
<NET-INCOME>                                                           301,655
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              8,817
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                          292,838
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               259,395
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                              114,844
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                 602,139
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                             0.00<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0.00<F1>

<FN>
<F1> INFORMATION NOT NORMALLY DISCLOSED IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES.
</FN>