<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