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