<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                 PRO-FORMA
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,188,741
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,805,383
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,061,638
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     3,958,057
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,013,819
<COMMON>                                     2,866,139
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,141,326
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               5,007,465
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         5,353,390
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      475,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               1,288,313
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  189,240
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     15,936
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,145
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,673,590
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               18,013,819
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    4,101,100
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           197,249
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,235,035
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,235,035
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        866,065
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              44,659
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 910,724
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       286,175
<NET-INCOME>                                   427,300
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,319
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  424,981
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       281,145
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      164,066<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         946,500
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.74
<FN>
<F1>Total annual interest charges on all bonds for year-to-date September 30, 1997.
</FN>