<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,713,202
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    202,254
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         383,938
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,039,293
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,338,687
<COMMON>                                       178,162
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,195,625
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            549,746
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,923,533
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,001,586
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 112,725
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  154,378
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,146,465
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,338,687
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      413,983
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            24,803
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     322,224
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     347,027
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         66,956
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,322
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  68,278
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        34,483
<NET-INCOME>                                    33,795
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,016
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   32,779
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        85,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       27,761
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         165,079
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0