<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FROM ACE'S 2/ND/ QUARTER 2000
10Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      977,235
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    113,600
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         286,921
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,113,564
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  67,796
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,559,116
<COMMON>                                        54,963
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      493,007
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            110,948
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 658,918
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          118,950
<PREFERRED>                                      6,231
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           944,802
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,075
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     10,886
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                15,480
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 793,774
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,559,116
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      445,135
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,134
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     386,044
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     390,178
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         54,957
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,016
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  57,973
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        42,287
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,686
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,065
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,621
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        33,655
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         125,983
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0