WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE>                       UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
"CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
CONSOLIDATED" STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                            1,000

                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                          JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                            SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>               2,717,033
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                    881,200
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                  474,345
<OTHER-ASSETS>                            130,149
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          4,202,727
<COMMON>                                      539
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                 411,534
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                       685,696
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>          1,097,769
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0
<PREFERRED>                                42,348
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                    1,192,003
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                        281,637
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>          1,588,970
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>           4,202,727
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                 804,234
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       17,521
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                741,212
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                758,733
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                    45,501
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                          3,421
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>             48,922
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   18,309
<NET-INCOME>                               30,613
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   858
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>              29,755
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   54,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   5,199
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    243,345
<EPS-BASIC>                                  0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0.00