<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,484,579
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,033,522
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         325,897
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,747,360
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,591,358
<COMMON>                                        73,119
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      931,964
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            970,384
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,295,658<F1>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,500
<PREFERRED>                                    263,889<F2>
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,782,587
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 307,058
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  448,532
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     15,649
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   734
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,475,751
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,591,358
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      315,061
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,506<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     261,289
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     261,289
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         53,772
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              33,361
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  87,133
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        33,523<F4>
<NET-INCOME>                                    45,104
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        411
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   44,693
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        28,093
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       19,806
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          65,287
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.62
<FN>
<F1>Includes $(679,809) of treasury stock at cost.
<F2>Includes $11,163 of Preference Stock.
<F3>Non-operating expense.
<F4>Includes $3,998 of Preferred and Preference Stock dividends.
</FN>