<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,762,195
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    213,411
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         502,662
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       668,507
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,146,775
<COMMON>                                       178,162
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,246,804
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            505,982
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,930,948
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,807,952
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 128,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  215,261
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,063,814
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,146,775
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      445,981
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            24,267
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     355,620
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     379,887
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         66,094
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 953
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  67,047
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        34,272
<NET-INCOME>                                    32,775
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   32,775
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        85,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       23,977
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         189,028
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0