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-31-1996
PERIOD-START                                                    Jan-01-1996
PERIOD-END                                                      Sep-30-1996
BOOK-VALUE                                                      PER-BOOK
TOTAL-NET-UTILTIY-PLANT                                         $   944,989
OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST                                       $     8,739
TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS                                            $    78,958
TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES                                          $   234,091
OTHER-ASSETS                                                    $     8,503
TOTAL-ASSETS                                                    $ 1,275,280
COMMON                                                          $    45,498
CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN                                         $   107,275
RETAINED-EARNINGS                                               $   242,914
TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ                                    $   395,687
PREFERRED-MANDATORY                                             $     6,570
PREFERRED                                                       $     9,247
LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET                                              $   145,850
SHORT-TERM-NOTES                                                $         0
LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE                                         $   200,000
COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS                                    $    31,497
LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT                                     $    15,000
PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT                                         $         0
CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS                                       $         0
LEASES-CURRENT                                                  $         0
OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB                                    $   471,429  
TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB                                     $ 1,275,280
GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE                                         $   341,527
INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE                                              $    23,744
OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES                                        $   252,280
TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES                                        $   276,024
OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS                                           $    65,503
OTHER-INCOME-NET                                                $     1,433    
INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN                                    $    66,936
TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE                                          $    21,463
NET-INCOME                                                      $    45,473
PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS                                       $     1,552
EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM                                     $    43,921
COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS                                          $    25,695
TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS                                         $     9,932  
CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS                                            $    64,695
EPS-PRIMARY                                                     $      1.96
EPS-DILUTED                                                     $      1.89
        
<PAGE>


</TABLE>