<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from (balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements) and is qualifed in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,719,117 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 104,926 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 207,375 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 415,828 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,447,246 <COMMON> 94,031 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 358,011 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 269,969 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 722,011 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 106,627 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 686,203 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 63,913 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 48,816 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 33,999 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 785,677 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,447,246 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 238,170 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 13,125 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 181,615 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 194,740 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 43,430 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 987 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 44,417 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,962 <NET-INCOME> 29,455 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1,405 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 28,050 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 17,490 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 48,502 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.75 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.75