<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,717,473
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    618,741
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         622,228
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       680,550
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,638,992
<COMMON>                                        73,119
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      917,383
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            777,607
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,391,859<F1>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            3,000
<PREFERRED>                                    200,539<F2>
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,439,746
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                          749
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   51,919
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     28,407
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                20,912
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,501,861
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,638,992
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,225,195
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            87,388<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     923,189
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     923,189
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        302,006
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              74,790
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 289,408
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       110,270<F4>
<NET-INCOME>                                   179,138
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  179,138
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       100,517
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       88,478
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         377,637
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.32
<FN>
<F1>Includes $(376,250) of Treasury Stock at cost
<F2>Includes $9,464 of Preference Stock
<F3>Non-Operating Expense
<F4>Includes $12,116 of Preferred and Preference 
    Stock Dividends