<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                  UT
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS,  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS  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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                         SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                         PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                              3,740,705
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                    0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                   642,419
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                 678,344
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                            92,517
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         5,153,985
<COMMON>                                                                 762,136
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                534,672
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                      343,953
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                         1,640,761
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                               20,725
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                   1,199,633
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                       239,023
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                            130,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                         1,923,843
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                          5,153,985
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                883,892
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                      43,178
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                               737,481
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                               780,659
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                  103,233
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                           511
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                           103,744
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  25,072
<NET-INCOME>                                                              78,672
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                  214
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                             78,458
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                 25,445
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                   320,209
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.00
                                                                      

</TABLE>