<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    5,390,727
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    100,366
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         435,682
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        39,572
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 849,642
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,815,989
<COMMON>                                       510,619
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      716,879
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,091,090
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,318,588
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    155,197
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,879,651
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              33,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     80,798
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                32,631
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,310,224
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,815,989
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      487,258
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            21,335
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     400,336
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     421,671
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         65,587
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (204)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  65,383
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        33,753
<NET-INCOME>                                    31,630
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,204
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   29,426
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        64,849
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      112,905
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          65,555
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.29