<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    5,499,082
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     81,778
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         516,031
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        66,660
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 701,612
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,865,163
<COMMON>                                       510,619
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      717,669
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,060,716
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,289,004
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              598
<PREFERRED>                                    218,497
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,746,288
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              70,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   45,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           26
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     78,920
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                31,599
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,385,231
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,865,163
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,110,988
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           208,336
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,469,823
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,678,159
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        432,829
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (1,357)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 431,472
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       127,538
<NET-INCOME>                                   303,394
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     13,249
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  290,685
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       127,655
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      113,813
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         611,842
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.85