<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> $6,299,540 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> $294,678 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> $800,856 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> $381,008 <OTHER-ASSETS> $571,324 <TOTAL-ASSETS> $8,347,406 <COMMON> $1,221,794 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> ($790) <RETAINED-EARNINGS> $1,728,301 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> $2,949,305 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> $0 <PREFERRED> $59,376 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> $2,614,414 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> $0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> $0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> $0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> $53,172 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> $0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> $0 <LEASES-CURRENT> $0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> $2,671,139 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> $8,347,406 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> $3,130,045 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> $257,494 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> $2,232,534 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> $2,490,028 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> $897,511 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> $(66,543) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> $573,474 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> $174,236 <NET-INCOME> $399,238 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> ($2,967) <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> $396,271 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> $281,852 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> $128,385 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> $920,392 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.75 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.75