<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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                            JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                              MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                          3,748,606
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               415,260
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                             678,637
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                        92,624
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     4,935,127
<COMMON>                                                             762,136
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                            534,542
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                  271,302
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     1,567,980
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                           21,110
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                               1,405,536
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                    56,573
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                        274,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                     1,609,928
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                      4,935,127
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                            613,967
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                  43,800
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           471,364
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           515,164
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                               98,803
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       352
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                        99,155
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              30,832
<NET-INCOME>                                                          68,323
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              219
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                         68,104
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              42,600
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             30,045
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                62,074
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.00