<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>                                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             12-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                          3,758,094
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               429,248
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                             690,008
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                        89,908
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     4,967,258
<COMMON>                                                             762,136
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                            536,276
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                  247,403
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     1,545,815
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                           21,146
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                               1,565,108
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                    30,591
<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>                                     1,674,598
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                      4,967,258
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                          1,976,049
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                 145,075
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         1,478,684
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         1,623,759
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                              352,290
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                    (2,560)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                       349,730
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             122,550
<NET-INCOME>                                                         227,180
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                           10,643
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                        198,146
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                             377,969
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                            123,616
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                               675,541
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.00