<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