WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>              UT
<LEGEND>
   This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's financial statements 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-31-1997
PERIOD-START                                                    Jan-01-1997
PERIOD-END                                                      Mar-31-1997
BOOK-VALUE                                                      PER-BOOK
TOTAL-NET-UTILTIY-PLANT                                         $   953,197
OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST                                       $     8,584
TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS                                            $    96,547
TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES                                          $   249,220
OTHER-ASSETS                                                    $     8,827
TOTAL-ASSETS                                                    $ 1,316,375
COMMON                                                          $    45,520
CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN                                         $   107,584
RETAINED-EARNINGS                                               $   238,769
TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ                                    $   391,873
PREFERRED-MANDATORY                                             $     6,300
PREFERRED                                                       $    10,506
LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET                                              $   120,869
SHORT-TERM-NOTES                                                $     1,150
LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE                                         $   205,000
COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS                                    $    79,040
LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT                                     $    30,000
PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT                                         $         0
CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS                                       $         0
LEASES-CURRENT                                                  $         0
OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB                                    $   471,637  
TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB                                     $ 1,316,375
GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE                                         $    97,668
INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE                                              $     3,843
OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES                                        $    79,027
TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES                                        $    82,870
OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS                                           $    14,798
OTHER-INCOME-NET                                                $       136    
INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN                                    $    14,934
TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE                                          $     7,408
NET-INCOME                                                      $     7,526
PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS                                       $       524
EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM                                     $     7,002
COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS                                          $     8,647
TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS                                         $     2,199  
CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS                                            $     3,530
EPS-PRIMARY                                                     $      0.31
EPS-DILUTED                                                     $      0.31
        

</TABLE>