<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> Mar-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 2,342,319
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 402,925
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 147,390
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 210,701
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,103,335
<COMMON> 449,697
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> (1,668)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 423,500
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 871,529
62
39,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 895,043
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 90,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 143,858
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,062,943
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 3,103,335
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 190,333
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 4,563
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 165,795
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<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 19,975
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> (2,048)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 17,927
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,352
<NET-INCOME> 30,648
412
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 30,236
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 25,687
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 12,447
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 71,487
<EPS-BASIC> 0.49
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.49
</TABLE>
