<ARTICLE> UT

<LEGEND>

This schedule contain 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>                   6-MOS

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997

<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998

<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998

<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK

<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,556,704

<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0

<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         226,283

<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       439,950

<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,222,937

<COMMON>                                       193,561

<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      500,776

<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            125,670

<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 820,007

<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>                 693,562

<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,222,937

<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      493,212

<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            34,332

<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     389,702

<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     421,097

<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         48,910

<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,610

<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  76,788

<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        22,878

<NET-INCOME>                                    53,910

<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,610

<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   51,300

<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        34,905

<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0

<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         147,720

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.32

<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0