<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FROM ACE'S FIRST QUARTER 2000
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-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      980,702
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    112,126
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         280,383
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,128,728
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  65,262
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,567,201
<COMMON>                                        54,963
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      493,007
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            114,194
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 662,164
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          118,950
<PREFERRED>                                      6,231
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           954,777
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       75
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     12,310
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                15,480
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 797,214
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,567,201
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      208,886
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,134
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     186,206
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     187,340
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         21,546
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,622
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  23,168
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        21,595
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,573
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        533
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    1,040
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,827
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         108,197
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0