<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    5,467,881
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     78,032
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         423,525
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        69,172
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 706,371
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,744,981
<COMMON>                                       510,619
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      717,669
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,063,909
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,292,197
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              624
<PREFERRED>                                    218,497
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,701,145
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              36,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   70,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           26
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     69,994
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                32,289
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,323,709
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,744,981
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,114,983
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           213,902
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,456,737
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,670,639
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        444,344
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 904
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 445,248
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       129,225
<NET-INCOME>                                   316,023
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     13,249
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  302,774
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        63,828
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      114,472
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         559,121
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.96
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.96