WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                           UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Statement of Operations, Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flows, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US$
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             DEC-31-1998  
<PERIOD-END>                                  DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                     PER-BOOK           
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                       2,071,482           
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        19,410           
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                            634,254           
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                           78,507           
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  4,868,830           
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  7,672,483           
<COMMON>                                                0           
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                               0           
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                               (79,981)          
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                    (79,981)          
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   0           
<PREFERRED>                                             0           
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                              778,075           
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                      0           
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       5,355,085           
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                          0           
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                     398,000           
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                               0           
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                             0           
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                        0           
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  1,221,304           
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                   7,672,483           
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       1,707,616           
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              (77,862)          
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      1,476,433           
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      1,398,571           
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                           309,045           
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (133,224)          
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                    175,821           
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          293,424           
<NET-INCOME>                                      (81,378)          
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,037           
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                     (89,415)          
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           54,147           
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                         280,109           
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                            111,308           
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           0           
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0             
                                              


</TABLE>