<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