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

  

<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,100,188
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    577,286
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         527,166
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       132,890
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 422,531
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,760,061
<COMMON>                                       291,414
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      565,481
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            702,332
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,559,227
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                     78,475
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,206,441
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      153,837
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   61,353
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     83,066
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 8,568
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,584,094
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,760,061
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,444,457
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           128,744
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,060,910
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,189,654
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        254,803
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,552
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 260,355
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        84,208 <F1>
<NET-INCOME>                                   176,147
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0 <F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  176,147
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       136,381
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       66,856
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         436,279
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.51
<FN>
<F1> PREFERRED DIVIDEND OF SUBSIDIARY INCLUDED IN INTEREST EXPENSE