<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
       
                                                         
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                              JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                JUN-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                               6-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                             6,242,220
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                   0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                  522,184
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                              1,020,438
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                          646,546
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        8,431,388
<COMMON>                                                                  1,577
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                             1,594,920
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                     980,436
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                        2,576,933
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                   160,000
<PREFERRED>                                                             213,090
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                  2,523,300
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                      573,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                     0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                            50,400
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                     0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                   0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                        2,334,165
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         8,431,388
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                             1,600,829
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                    107,003
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            1,211,856
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            1,318,859
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                 281,970
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                          225
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                          282,195
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                102,568
<NET-INCOME>                                                            179,627
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              13,446
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                           166,181
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                135,600
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                97,156
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                  511,117
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              1.05