<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S
FINANCIAL RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,600,815
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     49,614
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         140,397
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       145,054
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,935,880
<COMMON>                                        30,915
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      454,608
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            147,871
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 633,394
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           48,500
<PREFERRED>                                     73,115
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           627,224
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  75,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,566
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 468,081
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,935,880
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      663,243
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            38,667
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     505,949
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     544,616
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        118,627
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,984
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 125,611
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        41,536
<NET-INCOME>                                    84,075
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      9,630
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   74,445
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        38,308
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       35,101
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         147,025
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.40