<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FROM ACE'S 3RD QUARTER 1999
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-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,135,344
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    113,412
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         349,548
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       822,790
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  78,332
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,499,426
<COMMON>                                        54,963
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      493,007
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            189,945
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 737,915
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          118,950
<PREFERRED>                                      6,231
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           726,377
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              30,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   46,075
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     15,059
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                15,480
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 803,339
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,499,426
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      842,354
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            51,891
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     683,053
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     734,944
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        107,410
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               8,241
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 115,651
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        49,729
<NET-INCOME>                                    48,439
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,599
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   46,840
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        39,017
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         193,041
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0