<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>                                          2,531,532
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               155,086
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                             478,658
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                       129,667
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     3,294,943
<COMMON>                                                                 539
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                            402,947
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                  626,089
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     1,029,575
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                          173,086
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                 969,870
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                   160,315
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                         10,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                       952,097
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                      3,294,943
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                          1,331,962
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                  73,194
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         1,053,006
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                         1,126,200
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                              205,762
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                      (896)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                       204,866
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              79,188
<NET-INCOME>                                                         125,678
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                           12,537
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                        113,141
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                             112,076
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             67,001
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                               227,543
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.00