<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>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                              JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                               9-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                             3,753,938
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                   0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                  297,712
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                700,492
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                          102,695
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        4,854,837
<COMMON>                                                                762,136
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                               536,128
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                     264,297
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                        1,562,561
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                              21,145
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                  1,564,868
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                       83,600
<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>                                        1,492,663
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         4,854,837
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                             1,443,256
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                    115,902
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            1,048,094
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            1,163,996
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                 279,260
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                        5,689
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                          284,949
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                 92,260
<NET-INCOME>                                                            192,689
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              10,423
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                           164,091
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                327,020
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                93,392
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                  527,679
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              0.00