<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>                                                                          YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                      DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                                         JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                                           MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                           PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                                                3,735,711
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                                                      0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                                     395,975
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                                                   674,210
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                                              92,642
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                                           4,898,538
<COMMON>                                                                                                   762,136
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                                                  534,654
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                                                        342,024
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                                           1,638,814
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                                                                 20,779
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                                                     1,105,476
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                                         327,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                                                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                                                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                                               60,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                                                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                                           1,746,469
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                                            4,898,538
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                                                  766,767
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                                                        44,613
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                                                 625,507
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                                                 670,120
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                                                     96,647
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                                           1,334
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                                              97,981
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                                    26,789
<NET-INCOME>                                                                                                71,192
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                                                    215
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                                               70,977
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                                                   (42,600)
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                                                   26,052
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                                                     195,416
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                                                    0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                                                    0.00
        

</TABLE>