<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,660,392
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         250,461
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       450,623
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,361,476
<COMMON>                                       194,257
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      501,762
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             90,540
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 786,559
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           45,000
<PREFERRED>                                     67,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           555,054
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              14,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       91,900
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   20,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       10,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 771,963
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,361,476
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,054,047
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            66,051
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     832,080
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     901,581
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        152,466
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (1,882)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 154,034
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        56,523
<NET-INCOME>                                    97,511
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,465
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   90,046
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        69,836
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       44,275<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         201,226
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.32
<FN>
<F1>PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF BONDS OUTSTANDING AT DECEMBER 31 MULTIPLIED BY ANNUAL
INTEREST RATES FOR EACH ISSUE.
</FN>