<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>                                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             12-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                          6,297,103
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               670,582
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                           1,076,851
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                       813,617
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     8,858,153
<COMMON>                                                               1,577
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                          1,573,064
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                  964,559
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     2,539,200
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                          177,989
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                               2,150,902
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                   952,600
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                       161,428
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                         85,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                     2,791,034
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                      8,858,153
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                          4,352,843
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                 248,937
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         3,565,313
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         3,814,250
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                              538,593
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                    72,933
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                       611,526
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             240,669
<NET-INCOME>                                                         253,238
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                        253,238
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                             283,866
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                            181,772
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                               753,445
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           1.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           1.59


</TABLE>