<ARTICLE> UT                                       EXHIBIT 27
<LEGEND>

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, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,904,673
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    123,500
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         385,512
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 559,374
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,973,059
<COMMON>                                           640
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,099,159
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            624,936
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,724,735
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                    104,440
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,459,113
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  70,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    7,321
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       30,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,552,450
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,973,059
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,167,644
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            71,096
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     147,166
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     920,698
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        246,946
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (4,873)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        60,924
<NET-INCOME>                                   105,524
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,529
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        49,432
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         295,788
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.61