<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    6,951,106
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    209,911
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         729,175
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        64,655
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 977,720
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,932,567
<COMMON>                                         1,372
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,583,728
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,431,295
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,016,395
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              598
<PREFERRED>                                    298,497
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,272,730
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              11,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  57,768
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  103,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           26
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     77,168
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                28,966
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               3,066,119
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                8,932,567
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,333,505
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           254,869
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,504,575
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,759,444
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        574,061
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (12,495)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 561,566
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       172,912
<NET-INCOME>                                   371,684
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     16,970
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  371,684
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       344,411
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      145,543
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         788,683
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.71