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                                                     9-MOS
FISCAL-YEAR-END                                                 Dec-31-1997
PERIOD-START                                                    Jan-01-1997
PERIOD-END                                                      Sep-30-1997
BOOK-VALUE                                                      PER-BOOK
TOTAL-NET-UTILTIY-PLANT                                         $   978,423
OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST                                       $     2,907
TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS                                            $   116,605
TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES                                          $   252,096
OTHER-ASSETS                                                    $     8,725
TOTAL-ASSETS                                                    $ 1,358,756
COMMON                                                          $    45,522
CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN                                         $   107,653
RETAINED-EARNINGS                                               $   254,125
TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ                                    $   407,300
PREFERRED-MANDATORY                                             $     6,260
PREFERRED                                                       $    11,089
LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET                                              $   120,888
SHORT-TERM-NOTES                                                $         0
LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE                                         $   245,000
COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS                                    $    47,344
LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT                                     $    15,000
PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT                                         $         0
CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS                                       $         0
LEASES-CURRENT                                                  $         0
OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB                                    $   505,875  
TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB                                     $ 1,358,756
GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE                                         $   341,091
INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE                                              $    22,066
OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES                                        $   257,144
TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES                                        $   279,210
OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS                                           $    61,881
OTHER-INCOME-NET                                                $     1,358    
INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN                                    $    63,239
TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE                                          $    21,556
NET-INCOME                                                      $    41,683
PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS                                       $     1,577
EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM                                     $    40,106
COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS                                          $    26,395
TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS                                         $     6,781  
CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS                                            $    82,373
EPS-PRIMARY                                                     $      1.79
EPS-DILUTED                                                     $      1.73
<PAGE>

        

</TABLE>