<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary information extracted from the Consolidated
Balance Sheet, Statement of Consolidated Income and Statement of Consolidated
Cash Flows and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,143,034
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    178,684
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         112,555
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       161,043
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  63,026
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,658,342
<COMMON>                                       365,251
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             53,350
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 418,601
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           86,579
<PREFERRED>                                      9,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           622,737
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       74,925
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    7,762
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          260
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 438,478
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,658,342
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      351,409
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,579
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     255,765
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     276,344
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         75,065
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,983
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  79,048
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        45,372
<NET-INCOME>                                    33,676
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,345
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   29,331
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        32,636
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          88,055
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.83