<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      1244808
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     251904
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          173008
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        183941
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                    8146
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1861807
<COMMON>                                           308
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       304392
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             302883
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  607583
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      59963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            457520
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               42095
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        56975
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   81000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    11528
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  545143
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  1861807
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       919255
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             28715
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      254796
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      790648
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         128607
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                4432
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  104324
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         39760
<NET-INCOME>                                     64564
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       3310
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    61254
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         61562
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        42706
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          151223
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.99
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.99