<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,686,664
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     88,535
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         145,030
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       148,701
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,068,920
<COMMON>                                        31,027
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      457,975
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            198,166
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 687,168
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           48,500
<PREFERRED>                                     73,115
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           630,111
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             123,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   40,597
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 466,429
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,068,920
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      376,943
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,513
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     293,029
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     312,542
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         64,401
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 259
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  64,660
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        24,892
<NET-INCOME>                                    39,768
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,086
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   37,682
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        21,693
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          58,060
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .50