<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated financial statements and is qualifed in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      860,345
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     67,913
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          99,571
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        98,211
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  56,860
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,182,900
<COMMON>                                        79,094
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      232,153
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            121,900
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 433,147
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           34,750
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           366,607
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  55,646
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          814
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 291,936
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,182,900
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      269,034
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,410
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     202,550
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     222,960
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         46,074
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,614
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  49,688
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,861
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,847
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,270
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   33,557
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,183
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,962
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         124,564
<EPS-BASIC>                                      $1.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $1.33