<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS 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>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,623,757
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     55,696
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         124,302
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       145,792
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,949,547
<COMMON>                                        30,957
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      456,101
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            164,607
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 651,665
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           48,500
<PREFERRED>                                     73,115
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           611,936
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              88,400
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,573
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 465,358
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,949,547
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      356,114
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,699
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     275,601
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     296,300
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         59,814
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,124
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  61,938
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        20,266
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,672
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,730
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   38,856
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,120
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          80,508
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.19