<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S 3RD QUARTER 1998 10-Q 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-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,994,264
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     57,412
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         357,609
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       237,247
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 204,836
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,851,368
<COMMON>                                             2
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      528,893
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            329,888
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 858,783
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           70,000
<PREFERRED>                                     89,703
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           951,964
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   37,287
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     18,313
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                12,478
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 812,840
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,851,368
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,377,450
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            62,412
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,156,948
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,219,360
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        158,090
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,127
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 160,217
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        65,261
<NET-INCOME>                                    94,956
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,259
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   91,697
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        71,210
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         222,915
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0