<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>                                                SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                               9-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                             6,253,490
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                   0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                  396,868
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                              1,201,529
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                          746,674
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        8,598,561
<COMMON>                                                                  1,577
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                             1,592,393
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                     992,455
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                        2,586,425
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                             194,235
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                  2,383,827
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                      817,454
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                     0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                           140,400
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                     0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                   0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                        2,476,220
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         8,598,561
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                             2,366,533
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                    172,459
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            1,761,843
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            1,934,302
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                 432,231
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                        9,861
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                          442,092
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                157,940
<NET-INCOME>                                                            284,152
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              19,941
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                           246,036
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                203,402
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                               143,678
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                  673,934
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              1.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              1.56