<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>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   $1,673,721
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     88,898
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         162,205
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       146,260
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,071,084
<COMMON>                                        31,015
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      457,684
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            194,504
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 683,203
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           48,500
<PREFERRED>                                     73,115
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           616,644
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             111,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   40,589
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 497,733
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,071,084
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      194,786
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            11,285
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     148,403
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     159,688
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         35,098
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  38
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  35,136
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        12,603
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,533
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,408
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   20,125
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,550
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          52,183
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .65
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .65