<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS,
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITALIZATION FOR
THE THREE MONTHS ENDED 03/31/97 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    9,389,002
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,228,005
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,116,382
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,741,832
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              13,475,221
<COMMON>                                     1,896,141
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          3,049,292
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,945,433
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          234,000
<PREFERRED>                                    450,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         3,588,240
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              54,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  193,287
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      9,361
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,522
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               4,009,761
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               13,475,221
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,133,295
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           117,779
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     802,308
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     920,087
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        330,987
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              32,250
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 245,458
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        70,023
<NET-INCOME>                                   175,435
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     11,039
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  164,396
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       106,842
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       60,755
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         341,350
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.82
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0