<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,640,423
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    810,205
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         612,718
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       648,021
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,711,367
<COMMON>                                        73,120
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      930,031
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            849,149
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,480,273<F1>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            3,000
<PREFERRED>                                    221,896<F2>
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,357,989
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       10,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  120,290
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     30,496
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                21,148
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,466,275
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,711,367
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      920,648
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            76,978<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     690,991
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     690,991
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        229,657
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              84,780
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 314,437
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        86,919<F4>
<NET-INCOME>                                   150,540
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  150,540
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        78,996
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       65,784
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         285,541
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.94
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.94
<FN>
<F1>Includes $(372,027) of Treasury Stock at cost
<F2>Includes $11,287 of Preference Stock
<F3>Non-Operating Expense
<F4>Includes $12,555 of Preferred and Preference Stock Dividends
</FN>