<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,598,104
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     50,733
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         160,695
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       144,684
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,954,216
<COMMON>                                        30,941
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      455,518
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            159,093
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 645,552
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           48,500
<PREFERRED>                                     73,115
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           627,116
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              85,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,570
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 464,363
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,954,216
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      184,482
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            12,385
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     139,125
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     151,510
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         32,972
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,211
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  34,183
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        10,489
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,694
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,408
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   21,286
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         9,585
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          42,271
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .69