<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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,558,544
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         209,802
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       656,620
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  21,154
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,446,120
<COMMON>                                       194,429
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      448,815
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            148,984
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 792,228
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                     47,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           510,019
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              10,040
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      244,146
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,936
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       10,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 803,751
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,446,120
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      326,091
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            24,380
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     252,038
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     275,115
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         50,976
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,605
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  51,278
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,016
<NET-INCOME>                                    37,262
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,116
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   36,146
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,646
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         117,439
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .97
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0