<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
SEPTEMBER 30, 1999, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,145,823
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    112,100
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,490,253
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 265,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,013,576
<COMMON>                                         1,147
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      751,173
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            776,883
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,490,206
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           25,000
<PREFERRED>                                     10,131
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,387,407
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,687
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,099,145
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,013,576
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,733,385
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           188,251
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     223,950
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,281,275
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        452,110
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              30,065
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       102,298
<NET-INCOME>                                   189,412
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,214
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        75,091
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         (8,377)
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.61