<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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,564,568
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         298,394
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       434,309
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,297,271
<COMMON>                                       194,320
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      504,935
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            128,763
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 828,018
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           35,000
<PREFERRED>                                     47,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           485,451
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      101,900
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   30,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       10,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 759,902
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,297,271
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      282,516
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            24,128
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     209,927
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     233,606
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         48,910
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,227
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  49,688
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        11,433
<NET-INCOME>                                    38,255
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,305
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   36,950
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        17,490
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          84,630
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .95
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0