<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH
31, 1998 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,224,427
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    268,430
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         130,551
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        99,736
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  89,397
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,812,541
<COMMON>                                           308
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      303,930
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            303,267
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 607,505
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     59,963
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           457,901
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              44,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       56,975
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  32,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,724
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 542,473
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,812,541
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      222,550
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,433 <F1>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     191,062
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     191,062 <F1>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         31,488
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,381
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  34,869
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        10,830
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,606
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        828
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   15,778
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,394
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       30,575
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          87,546
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.51
<FN>
<F1>   Income tax expense is not included
       in Operating Expense in the Consolidated
       Statements of Income.
</FN>