<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1999) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> $6,698,935 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> $420,923 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> $1,031,900 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> $319,230 <OTHER-ASSETS> $824,135 <TOTAL-ASSETS> $9,295,123 <COMMON> $1,603,444 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> ($793) <RETAINED-EARNINGS> $1,807,987 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> $3,410,638 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> $0 <PREFERRED> $59,376 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> $2,800,068 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> $100,000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> $0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> $0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> $150,000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> $0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> $0 <LEASES-CURRENT> $0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> $2,775,041 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> $9,295,123 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> $2,550,480 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> $204,275 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> $1,884,738 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> $2,089,013 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> $665,742 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> ($24,827) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> $436,640 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> $133,415 <NET-INCOME> $303,225 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> ($2,225) <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> $301,000 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> $221,312 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> $101,642 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> $689,855 <EPS-BASIC> $2.05 <EPS-DILUTED> $2.05