<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,639,434
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         322,671
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       427,696
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,389,801
<COMMON>                                       194,257
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      501,760
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            112,785
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 808,802
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           45,000
<PREFERRED>                                     67,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           555,067
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<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>                 792,032
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,389,801
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      314,845
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,914
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     234,974
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     259,651
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         55,194
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (1,113)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  54,844
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        13,411
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,433
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,704
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   39,729
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        17,483
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         112,235
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.02