<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FROM THE COMPANY'S 1996
ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,111,764
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    148,874
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         308,200
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       260,594
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,979,153
<COMMON>                                       136,765
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      508,300
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            293,604
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 934,913
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           70,000
<PREFERRED>                                     89,703
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           904,033
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              74,355
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   27,676
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     20,552
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                12,598
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 845,323
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,979,153
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,094,961
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            75,856
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     839,725
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     915,581
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        179,380
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,608
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 185,988
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        69,801
<NET-INCOME>                                   116,187
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      8,936
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  107,251
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        93,294
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       66,042
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         222,652
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.77