<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>                                          3,743,740
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               399,565
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                             667,765
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                       103,368
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     4,914,438
<COMMON>                                                             762,136
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                            534,649
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                  313,803
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     1,610,588
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                           20,793
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                               1,324,432
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                   301,253
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                              0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                     1,657,372
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                      4,914,438
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                          2,451,876
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                 172,047
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         1,951,978
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         2,124,025
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                              327,851
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                    27,130
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                       354,981
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             115,828
<NET-INCOME>                                                         239,153
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              868
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                        238,285
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                             170,400
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                            110,134
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                               438,705
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.00


</TABLE>