<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 27
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN ITS FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
MARCH 31, 2000 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-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,393,923
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    148,073
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         815,781
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 849,567
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,207,344
<COMMON>                                         1,177
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      824,197
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            851,860
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,636,720
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     10,159
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,304,980
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             126,740
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   16,090
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,112,655
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,207,344
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      684,426
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            52,757
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      79,808
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     517,331
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        167,095
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,500
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        28,412
<NET-INCOME>                                    93,327
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         99
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        24,055
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         117,029
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .83