<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,713,202
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    587,739
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         426,147
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,044,870
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,771,958
<COMMON>                                     1,546,055
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            615,859
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,161,914
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,170,640
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 112,725
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  157,646
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,169,033
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,771,958
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      438,687
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,861
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     247,676
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     346,917
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         91,770
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (3,524)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        36,695
<NET-INCOME>                                    30,690
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   30,690
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        27,534
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       27,761
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         168,909
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.36