<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
RETAINED EARNINGS AND OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,572,397
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    351,414
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         385,530      
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       442,792      
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,752,133
<COMMON>                                     1,148,255        
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            564,377
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,709,926        
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           41,033
<PREFERRED>                                    126,027   
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,548,571        
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              53,715     
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   92,713     
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,432
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,175,010     
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,752,133        
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      717,078      
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            49,854     
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     525,292      
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     575,146     
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        141,932      
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               9,900    
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 151,832      
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        61,091     
<NET-INCOME>                                    90,741     
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,820    
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   86,921     
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        80,710     
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         176,669
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .81  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0