<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-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                   MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                               3,745,899
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                     0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    735,644
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                  616,784
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                            101,817
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          5,200,144
<COMMON>                                                                  762,136
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                 553,929
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                       359,003
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                          1,675,068
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                           0
<PREFERRED>                                                                20,697
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                    1,219,901
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                        293,280
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                  0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                              20,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                     0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                          1,971,198
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                           5,200,144
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                 645,383
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                       48,889
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                490,589
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                539,478
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                   105,905
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                         (1,261)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                            104,644
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   24,407
<NET-INCOME>                                                               80,237
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                   214
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                              80,023
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                   71,400
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                  24,456
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                    121,884
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                0.00
                                                                

</TABLE>