<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
JUNE 30, 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>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,387,375
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    148,462
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         731,169
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 881,642
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,148,648
<COMMON>                                         1,137
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      740,240
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            883,329
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,584,997
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     10,159
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,304,157
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             167,426
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    7,355
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,074,554
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,148,648
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,256,345
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            72,916
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     163,239
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     990,867
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        265,478
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              15,010
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        57,576
<NET-INCOME>                                   149,798
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        198
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        49,057
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         194,883
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.32