<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FROM THE COMPANY'S 1ST
QUARTER 1998 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,020,067
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     60,367
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         323,589
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       215,935
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 193,949
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,813,907
<COMMON>                                             2
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      542,980
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            279,698
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 822,680
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           70,000
<PREFERRED>                                     89,703
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           983,058
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               2,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   32,055
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     18,506
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                12,472
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 783,133
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,813,907
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      416,110
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (2,408)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     403,021
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     400,613
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         15,497
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,165
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  16,662
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        21,518
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,856)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,086
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (5,942)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        23,761
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          79,090
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0