<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, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,155,804
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     99,328
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,599,666
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 274,362
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,129,160
<COMMON>                                         1,174
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      819,960
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            754,088
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,536,225
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                     10,131
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,386,621
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    2,018
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,169,165
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,129,160
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,162,365
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           159,276
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     153,019
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     808,296
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        354,069
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              14,360
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        64,901
<NET-INCOME>                                   142,531
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,721
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        51,005
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           4,647
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.19