<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,525,490
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    858,330
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         458,179
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       751,020
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,593,019
<COMMON>                                        73,119
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      928,179
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            886,916
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,516,470<F1>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            4,000
<PREFERRED>                                    241,182<F2>
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,308,111
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        2,921
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   40,322
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     38,927
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                21,856
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,419,230
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,593,019
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      296,025
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,487<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     234,208
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     234,208
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         61,817
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              31,418
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  93,235
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        27,618<F4>
<NET-INCOME>                                    45,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   45,130
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        27,964
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       20,816
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          75,439
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.57
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES $(371,744) OF TREASURY STOCK AT COST
<F2>INCLUDES $12,428 OF PREFERENCE STOCK
<F3>NON-OPERATING EXPENSE
<F4>INCLUDES $4,265 OF PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE STOCK DIVIDENDS
</FN>