<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                          UT
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
STATEMENT OF INCOME, BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS, AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                           1,000

<S>                                                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                          3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                                    JAN-1-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                     MAR-31-2000
 <BOOK-VALUE>                                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                          1,161,388
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               342,241
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                             232,060
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     1,735,689
<COMMON>                                                                   0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                            657,862
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                   38,845
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                       696,707
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                                0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                 575,904
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                         0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                              0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                       463,078
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                      1,735,689
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                            298,660
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                  23,105
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           221,775
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           244,880
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                               53,780
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                     2,054
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                        55,834
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              12,201
<NET-INCOME>                                                          43,633
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                         43,633
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             12,201
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                61,732
<EPS-BASIC>                                                             0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.00




</TABLE>