<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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                            JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                              MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                          6,274,182
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               511,819
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                           1,141,602
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                       833,505
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     8,761,108
<COMMON>                                                               1,577
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                          1,579,934
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                1,034,224
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     2,615,735
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                          194,195
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                               2,375,694
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                   705,177
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                        274,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                     2,596,307
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                      8,761,108
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                          1,030,180
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                  63,919
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           813,962
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           877,881
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                              152,299
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                    26,857
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                       179,156
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              61,800
<NET-INCOME>                                                         117,356
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                            3,239
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                        114,117
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              71,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             49,275
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                               154,339
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0.72
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.72