<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>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                           YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                       DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                          JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                            DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                        2,592,245
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                              0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             860,538
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                           343,731
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                      93,012
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   3,889,526
<COMMON>                                                               539
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                          410,739
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                564,370
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                     975,648
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                         71,923
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                             1,025,659
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                 276,108
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                           0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                        6,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                              0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                         0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                   1,534,188
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                    3,889,526
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                        2,403,038
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                23,147
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                       2,241,794
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                       2,264,941
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                            138,097
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                   3,300
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                     141,397
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            89,359
<NET-INCOME>                                                        52,038
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                          5,659
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                       46,379
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                           118,799
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                           80,259
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                             256,888
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         0.00
                                                         

</TABLE>