TEXAS UTILITIES ELECTRIC CO
424B5, 1997-08-14
ELECTRIC SERVICES
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                                            Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) 
                                            Registration No. 33-83976



            PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
            (To Prospectus dated July 9, 1997)


                                     $300,000,000

                           TEXAS UTILITIES ELECTRIC COMAPNY
                          7.17% Debentures due August 1, 2007
                                   _______________
                       Interest payable February 1 and August 1
                                    ______________
                                                  
               The Debentures will be redeemable  as a whole or in part at the  
            option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal 
            to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount  thereof and 
            (ii)  the sum of  the present values  of the remaining  scheduled 
            payments  of  principal  and  interest thereon  from  the 
            redemption date to the  maturity date, computed by discounting  
            such payments, in each case, to the redemption date on a 
            semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year  consisting of twelve  
            30-day months)  at the  Treasury Rate  (as defined herein)  plus 
            10 basis points,  plus, in  each case,  accrued interest  on the
            principal amount  thereof to the date of redemption.  See CERTAIN 
            TERMS OF THE DEBENTURES  herein  and DESCRIPTION  OF  DEBT 
            SECURITIES  in  the accompanying Prospectus.  The Debentures will
            be represented by a global security registered in the name of
            The Depository Trust Company (DTC) or its nominee.  Book-entry
            interests in the global security will be shown on, and transfers
            thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by
            DTC or its nominee.


             THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE 
                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR BY ANY STATE 
                  SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND 
                    EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
                       COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR 
                       ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT 
                       OR THE PROSPECTUS TO WHICH IT RELATES.  
                        ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
                              IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                                ________________

                   PRICE 99.956% AND ACCRUED INTEREST, IF ANY
                                ________________

                                           Underwriting                      
                            Price to       Discounts and       Proceeds to
                            Public (1)     Commissions(2)      Company(1)(3)
                         -------------     --------------      -------------
     Per Debenture.....      99.56%            .650%              99.306%
     Total.............  $299,868,000       $1,950,000         $297,918,000
            _________
            (1)   Plus accrued interest, if any, from August 18, 1997.
            (2)   The Company  has agreed  to indemnify  the Underwriters 
                  against  certain liabilities, including liabilities under 
                  the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
            (3)   Before deduction  of  expenses  payable by  the  Company,  
                  estimated  at $465,000.

               The Debentures are offered, subject to prior sale, when, as and 
            if accepted by the Underwriters and subject to approval of certain 
            legal matters by Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, counsel for 
            the Underwriters.  It is  expected that delivery of  the Debentures 
            will be made on or  about August 18, 1997 through the book-entry 
            facilities of DTC, against payment therefor in immediately 
            available funds.


            MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER

                              LEHMAN BROTHERS

                                            SALOMON BROTHERS INC

            August 13, 1997.

     <PAGE>

             CERTAIN PERSONS  PARTICIPATING IN THIS  OFFERING MAY ENGAGE  IN
          TRANSACTIONS THAT  STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR  OTHERWISE AFFECT  THE
          PRICE  OF THE  DEBENTURES.   SPECIFICALLY,  THE UNDERWRITERS  MAY
          OVERALLOT  IN CONNECTION WITH THE  OFFERING, AND MAY  BID FOR AND
          PURCHASE, THE DEBENTURES IN THE OPEN MARKET.    FOR A DESCRIPTION
          OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITERS" HEREIN.

                                    --------------

                           CERTAIN TERMS OF THE DEBENTURES

             The  following information concerning  the 7.17% Debentures due
          August 1, 2007  (Debentures) supplements  and should  be read  in
          conjunction  with  the  statements  under  DESCRIPTION   OF  DEBT
          SECURITIES in the accompanying Prospectus.

          General

             The  Debentures  will  be  issued  as  a  new  series  of  Debt
          Securities  under an  indenture,  dated  as  of  August  1,  1997
          (Indenture),  between the  Company and  The Bank  of New  York as
          trustee (Trustee).

          Maturity, Interest and Payment

             The Debentures  will mature  on August  1, 2007  and will  bear
          interest from August 18, 1997, at the rate  shown in their title,
          payable semi-annually (commencing February 1, 1998) on February 1
          and August  1.   Interest will  be paid to  the persons  in whose
          names the Debentures are  registered at the close of  business on
          the  date preceding  each semi-annual  interest payment  date, so
          long  as  the Debentures  are held  in  book-entry form  only, or
          otherwise  on the 15th day  of the calendar  month next preceding
          each semi-annual interest payment date.

          Redemption

             The Debentures will be redeemable as a whole at any time or  in
          part,  from time  to time,  at the  option of  the Company,  at a
          redemption  price equal  to  the  greater  of  (i)  100%  of  the
          principal  amount of  such Debentures,  and (ii)  the sum  of the
          present values  of the remaining scheduled  payments of principal
          and interest  thereon from  the redemption  date to the  maturity
          date, computed by discounting such payments, in each case, to the
          redemption  date on a  semiannual basis (assuming  a 360-day year
          consisting  of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 10
          basis  points, plus,  in  each  case,  accrued  interest  on  the
          principal amount thereof to the date of redemption.

             "Treasury Rate"  means, with  respect to  any redemption  date,
          the  rate per annum equal  to the semiannual  equivalent yield to
          maturity  of the Comparable Treasury  Issue, assuming a price for
          the Comparable Treasury  Issue (expressed as a  percentage of its
          principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such
          redemption date.

             "Comparable Treasury  Issue" means  the United  States Treasury
          security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a
          maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Debentures to be
          redeemed  that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in
          accordance  with customary  financial  practice,  in pricing  new
          issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
          remaining  terms of  such  Debentures.   "Independent  Investment
          Banker" means  one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by
          the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

             "Comparable  Treasury   Price"  means,  with   respect  to  any
          redemption date, (i) the average of  the bid and asked prices for
          the Comparable  Treasury  Issue  (expressed in  each  case  as  a
          percentage of  its principal  amount) on  the third  business day
          preceding  such  redemption  date,  as  set  forth in  the  daily
          statistical release  (or any successor release)  published by the
          Federal Reserve Bank of  New York and designated "Composite  3:30
          p.m. Quotations for  U.S. Government Securities" or  (ii) if such
          release (or any successor  release) is not published or  does not

                                      S-2
     <PAGE>

          contain  such prices  on such  business day,  the average  of the
          Reference  Treasury Dealer  Quotations actually  obtained by  the
          Trustee  for such  redemption date.   "Reference  Treasury Dealer
          Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer
          and  any  redemption  date,  the average,  as  determined  by the
          Trustee,  of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury
          Issue  (expressed in each case  as a percentage  of its principal
          amount)  quoted  in writing  to  the  Trustee by  such  Reference
          Treasury  Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding
          such redemption date.

             "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Morgan  Stanley & Co.
          Incorporated, Lehman Brothers, Inc.  and Salomon Brothers Inc and
          their respective  successors; provided,  however, that if  any of
          the  foregoing  shall  cease  to  be  a  primary  U.S. Government
          securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"),
          the  Company shall  substitute therefor another  Primary Treasury
          Dealer.

             Notice of any  redemption will be mailed  at least 30 days  but
          no more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of
          Debentures to be redeemed.

             Upon  payment  of  the  redemption  price,  on  and  after  the
          redemption date interest will  cease to accrue on the  Debentures
          or portions thereof called for redemption.

          Book-Entry Only - The Depository Trust Company.  

             DTC will act as securities depositary  for the Debentures.  The
          Debentures will  be issued  only  as fully-registered  securities
          registered  in the name  of Cede &  Co. (DTC's nominee).   One or
          more fully-registered global Debenture certificates, representing
          the total aggregate number of Debentures, will be issued and will
          be deposited with DTC.

             DTC is a  limited-purpose trust company organized under the New
          York  Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of
          the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System,
          a  "clearing corporation"  within  the meaning  of  the New  York
          Uniform  Commercial  Code  and  a  "clearing  agency"  registered
          pursuant  to  the provisions  of  Section 17A  of  the Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934.  DTC holds securities that its participants
          (Participants)  deposit  with  DTC.   DTC  also  facilitates  the
          settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such as
          transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic
          computerized  book-entry  changes   in  Participants'   accounts,
          thereby eliminating the need  for physical movement of securities
          certificates.  Direct Participants include securities brokers and
          dealers,  banks,  trust  companies,  clearing   corporations  and
          certain other organizations (Direct  Participants).  DTC is owned
          by a number of its Direct  Participants and by the New York Stock
          Exchange,  the American  Stock Exchange,  Inc., and  the National
          Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.  Access to the DTC system
          is  also available  to  others, such  as  securities brokers  and
          dealers,  banks  and  trust  companies  that  clear  transactions
          through or  maintain a direct or  indirect custodial relationship
          with a Direct Participant either directly or indirectly (Indirect
          Participants).    The  rules  applicable to  DTC  and  its Direct
          Participants and Indirect  Participants (together,  Participants)
          are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

             Purchases of Debentures within the DTC  system must be made  by
          or  through Direct Participants, which will  receive a credit for
          the  Debentures on DTC's records.  The ownership interest of each
          actual  purchaser of Debentures (Beneficial  Owner) is in turn to
          be recorded on the Participants' records.  Beneficial Owners will
          not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but
          Beneficial Owners  are expected to  receive written confirmations
          providing  details  of  the  transactions, as  well  as  periodic
          statements of their holdings, from the Participants through which
          the  Beneficial  Owners  purchased  Debentures.     Transfers  of
          ownership  interests in the Debentures are  to be accomplished by
          entries made on  the books  of Participants acting  on behalf  of
          Beneficial   Owners.     Beneficial  Owners   will  not   receive
          certificates  representing  their   ownership  interests  in  the
          Debentures, except in the event that use of the book-entry system
          for the Debentures is discontinued.

             To  facilitate   subsequent  transfers,   all  the   Debentures
          deposited by Direct Participants  with DTC are registered  in the
          name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co.  The deposit of Debentures with
          DTC and  their registration in the  name of Cede &  Co. effect no
          change  in beneficial  ownership.   DTC has  no knowledge  of the

                                      S-3
     <PAGE>

          actual Beneficial Owners of the Debentures; DTC's records reflect
          only  the identity of  the Direct Participants  to whose accounts
          such  Debentures  are  credited, which  may  or  may  not be  the
          Beneficial Owners.  The  Participants will remain responsible for
          keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

             Conveyance  of  notices and  other  communications  by  DTC  to
          Direct  Participants,   by   Direct  Participants   to   Indirect
          Participants  and by  Participants to  Beneficial Owners  will be
          governed by arrangements among them,  subject to any statutory or
          regulatory requirements that may be in effect from time to time.

             Redemption notices shall  be sent to Cede &  Co.  If less  than
          all  of the Debentures are  being redeemed, DTC's  practice is to
          determine  by lot  the  amount of  the  interest of  each  Direct
          Participant in such issue to be redeemed.

             Neither DTC  nor Cede  & Co. will  itself consent or  vote with
          respect to  Debentures.   Under its  usual procedures,  DTC would
          mail  an Omnibus Proxy to  the Company as  soon as possible after
          the record date.  The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co. consenting
          or voting rights to  those Direct Participants to whose  accounts
          the Debentures are credited  on the record date (identified  in a
          listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

             Principal and interest payments on  the Debentures will be made
          to  DTC.   DTC's  practice  is  to  credit  Direct  Participants'
          accounts on  the relevant payment  date in accordance  with their
          respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless  DTC has reason
          to  believe that  it will  not receive  payments on  such payment
          date.   Payments by  Participants to  Beneficial  Owners will  be
          governed by standing instructions  and customary practices, as is
          the case with  securities held  for the account  of customers  in
          bearer form  or registered in  "street name,"  and such  payments
          will be the responsibility of such Participant and not  of DTC or
          the Company, subject to  any statutory or regulatory requirements
          to the contrary that may be in effect from time to time.  Payment
          of principal and  interest to  DTC is the  responsibility of  the
          Company, disbursement of such  payments to Direct Participants is
          the responsibility of DTC,  and disbursement of such payments  to
          the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Participants.

             Except as  provided  herein,  a Beneficial  Owner will  not  be
          entitled   to   receive   physical   delivery    of   Debentures.
          Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of
          DTC to exercise any rights under the Debentures.

             DTC  may  discontinue  providing  its  services  as  securities
          depositary with respect to  the Debentures at any time  by giving
          reasonable notice to  the Company.  Under  such circumstances, in
          the event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained,
          Debenture certificates are required  to be printed and delivered.
          Additionally,  the Company may  decide to discontinue  use of the
          system  of book-entry  transfers  through DTC  (or any  successor
          depositary)  with respect  to  the Debentures.    In that  event,
          certificates for the Debentures will be printed and delivered.

             The information in this  section concerning DTC and DTC's book-
          entry system  has been  obtained from  sources  that the  Company
          believes  to  be   reliable,  but  the  Company   does  not  take
          responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

                                      S-4
     <PAGE>

                            SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                         OF TEXAS UTILITIES ELECTRIC COMPANY
                (Thousands of Dollars, Except Ratios and Percentages)

             The following  material, which  is presented  herein solely  to
          furnish  limited  introductory information,  is qualified  in its
          entirety by, and  should be considered  in conjunction with,  the
          other information appearing in  this Prospectus Supplement and in
          the   accompanying   Prospectus,   including   the   Incorporated
          Documents.   In  the  opinion of  the  Company,  all  adjustments
          (constituting  only normal  recurring accruals)  necessary for  a
          fair statement of the results of operations for the twelve months
          ended June 30, 1997, have been made.


                                         TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                            DECEMBER 31,
                            ---------------------------------------------

                              1992        1993        1994        1995
                              ----        ----        ----        ----
      Income statement data:

        Operating          
        Revenues . . . .  $4,906,695  $5,409,156  $5,613,175   $5,560,462

        Net Income (a)  .    821,123     476,526     658,192      452,631

        Ratio of Earnings
         to Fixed Charges
         (a)(b) . . . . .       2.48        2.00        2.45         2.02


                               TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
                            ---------------------------
                             DECEMBER 31,      JUNE 30,
                            -------------       1997

                                1996        (UNAUDITED)
                                ----        -----------

      Income statement data:

        Operating Revenues    $6,029,611    $5,939,503

        Net Income (a)  . .      862,695       808,039

        Ratio of Earnings
         to Fixed Charges
         (a)(b) . . . . . .         2.95          2.96



                                                         ADJUSTED(c)
                                                    -------------------
                                     OUTSTANDING                     
                                         AT         
                                      JUNE 30,      
                                        1997        AMOUNT      PERCENT
                                     ----------     ------      -------
           Capitalization                                   
           (Unaudited):
             Long-term Debt  . . . . $6,040,031   $6,340,031       46.9


             Preferred Stock
              Not subject to       
               mandatory redemption.    139,140      129,194 
              Subject to mandatory                                     
               redemption  . . . . .     20,593       20,593
                                     ----------   ----------
                 Total Preferred  
                 Stock . . . . . . .    159,733      149,787        1.1
           Company Obligated
             Mandatorily Redeemable
             Preferred Securities of
             Subsidiary Trusts
             Holding Solely
             Debentures of the
             Company . . . . . . . .    874,865      874,865        6.5
           Common Stock Equity . . .  6,139,512    6,139,512       45.5
                                    -----------  -----------      -----
             Total Capitalization  .$13,214,141  $13,504,195      100.0%
                                    ===========  ===========      -----

          -----------------
          (a)  The twelve-month period ended December 31, 1992 was affected
               by the discontinuation of the accrual of allowance for funds
               used during  construction  (AFUDC) and  the commencement  of
               depreciation on approximately $1.3  billion of investment in
               Unit  1  of the  Comanche  Peak  nuclear generating  station
               (Comanche Peak) and facilities which are common to  Comanche
               Peak Units  1 and 2 incurred  after the end of  the June 30,
               1989 test year and, therefore, not included in the Company's
               Docket 9300 rate case.   Effective January 1992, the Company
               began  recording base rate  revenue for energy  sold but not
               billed  to  achieve  a  better  matching  of  revenues   and
               expenses.  The effect of this change in accounting increased
               net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 1992, by
               approximately  $102  million,  of  which  approximately  $80
               million represents the  cumulative effect of  the change  in
               accounting at  January 1,  1992.   The  twelve-month  period
               ended December  31, 1993  was affected  by the recording  of
               regulatory disallowances in Docket  11735.  The twelve-month
               period  ended   December  31,  1995  was   affected  by  the
               impairment  of several  nonperforming assets,  including the
               Company's  partially  completed Twin  Oak  and Forest  Grove
               lignite-fueled facilities, as well as  several minor assets.
               Such  impairment, on  an after-tax  basis, amounted  to $316
               million.  (See the 1996 10-K.)
          (b)  The computation  of the ratio  of earnings to  fixed charges
               does  not  include  interest  payments  made  by  affiliated
               companies  on senior  notes, which  are recovered  currently
               through the fuel component of rates.
          (c)  To  give  effect  to  (1)  the  issuance  and  sale  of  the
               Debentures  by  the  Company   and  (2)  the  repurchase  of
               preferred  stock  by  the   Company  since  June  30,  1997.
               Adjusted amounts  do not  reflect any possible  future sales
               from  time to time  by the  Company of  up to  an additional
               $148,850,000  of  debt  securities and  $25,000,000  of  the
               Company's cumulative preferred stock, for which registration
               statements  are effective  pursuant  to Rule  415 under  the
               Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                      S-5
     <PAGE>

                                     THE COMPANY

               The  Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of
          Texas in 1982 and has perpetual existence under the provisions of
          the Texas  Business Corporation Act.  The Company is  an electric
          utility  engaged  in  the  generation,   purchase,  transmission,
          distribution and sale of electric energy wholly within the  State
          of Texas.  The principal  executive offices  of  the Company  are
          located at Energy Plaza, 1601  Bryan Street, Dallas, Texas 75201;
          the telephone number is (214) 812-4600.

               The  Company is  the  principal subsidiary  of Texas  Energy
          Industries  Inc. (TEI), which is a subsidiary of the newly formed
          holding company, Texas Utilities  Company (Texas Utilities).  The
          other  electric  utility  subsidiaries of  TEI  are  Southwestern
          Electric  Service  Company, which  is  engaged  in the  purchase,
          transmission,  distribution and  sale of  electric energy  in ten
          counties  in  the  eastern and  central  parts  of  Texas with  a
          population estimated at  126,900, and  Texas Utilities  Australia
          Pty. Ltd., owner of  Eastern Energy Limited, which is  engaged in
          the purchase, distribution, marketing and sale of electric energy
          to  approximately 481,000  customers  in the  State of  Victoria,
          Australia.  TEI  also has three other  subsidiaries which perform
          specialized functions within the  Texas Utilities Company system:
          Texas Utilities Fuel Company owns a natural gas pipeline  system,
          acquires, stores  and delivers fuel  gas and provides  other fuel
          services at cost  for the  generation of electric  energy by  the
          Company; Texas Utilities Mining Company owns, leases and operates
          fuel production facilities for the surface mining and recovery of
          lignite  at cost  for the  generation of  electric energy  by the
          Company  and Texas  Utilities Services  Inc. provides  financial,
          accounting,   information  technology,   environmental  services,
          customer    services,    personnel,    procurement   and    other
          administrative services at cost.  In August 1997, Texas Utilities
          became the holding company  for both TEI and ENSERCH  Corporation
          (ENSERCH).   Pursuant to the  transaction, Lone Star  Gas Company
          and  Lone  Star  Pipeline  Company, the  local  distribution  and
          pipeline divisions of  ENSERCH, and  other businesses,  excluding
          Enserch Exploration Inc., a  subsidiary of ENSERCH, were acquired
          by Texas Utilities.

               The Company's service area covers the north central, eastern
          and  western parts  of  Texas,  with  a population  estimated  at
          5,890,000 -- about one-third of the population of Texas. Electric
          service  is   provided  in  91  counties   and  372  incorporated
          municipalities,  including Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving,
          Plano, Waco,  Mesquite,  Grand Prairie,  Wichita  Falls,  Odessa,
          Midland, Carrollton, Tyler, Richardson and Killeen. The area is a
          diversified  commercial  and industrial  center  with substantial
          banking,   insurance,  communications,   electronics,  aerospace,
          petrochemical and specialized steel manufacturing, and automotive
          and  aircraft  assembly.  The  territory  served  includes  major
          portions of the oil and gas  fields in the Permian Basin and East
          Texas, as  well as substantial  farming and ranching  sections of
          the State.  It also includes the  Dallas-Fort Worth International
          Airport and the Alliance Airport.

                                     UNDERWRITERS

                 Under the  terms  and subject  to  the conditions  of  the
          Underwriting  Agreement dated the  date hereof,  the Underwriters
          named below  have severally agreed  to purchase, and  the Company
          has agreed to  sell to them, severally,  the respective principal
          amount of the Debentures set forth opposite their names below:

                                                        Principal Amount of
                         Underwriters                        Debentures   
                         -----------                    ------------------
           Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated . . . . .     $100,000,000
          
           Lehman Brothers Inc.  . . . . . . . . . . .      100,000,000

           Salomon Brothers Inc  . . . . . . . . . . .      100,000,000
                                                           ------------
           Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     $300,000,000

             The  Underwriting  Agreement provides  that the  obligations of
          the  several Underwriters to pay  for and accept  delivery of the
          Debentures  are subject to the approval  of certain legal matters
          by  their  counsel   and  to  certain  other  conditions.     The
          Underwriters  are  committed  to take  and  pay  for  all of  the
          Debentures if any are taken.

                                      S-6 
     <PAGE>                                      

             The  Underwriters  propose  initially  to  offer  part  of  the
          Debentures to the public  at the public offering price  set forth
          on the cover page  of this Prospectus and part to certain dealers
          at  such price  less a concession  not in  excess of  .40% of the
          principal amount  of the  Debentures. The Underwriters  may allow
          and such dealers may reallow  a concession not in excess  of .25%
          of  the  principal amount  of  the  Debentures to  certain  other
          dealers.  After  the  initial  offering of  the  Debentures,  the
          offering price and selling terms may from time  to time be varied
          by the Underwriters.

             The Company  has agreed to  indemnify the Underwriters  against
          certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

             The  Company  does not  intend  to  apply  for  listing of  the
          Debentures on  a national  securities exchange,  and there  is at
          present no trading  market for  the Debentures.  The Company  has
          been advised by the Underwriters that they each  presently intend
          to make a  market in  the Debentures as  permitted by  applicable
          laws  and  regulations.    The Underwriters  are  not  obligated,
          however, to make a market in the Debentures and any  such market-
          making  may  be  discontinued  at any  time  by  any Underwriter.
          Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or
          trading market for, the Debentures.

             In  order  to facilitate  the offering  of the  Debentures, the
          Underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize,  maintain
          or otherwise affect  the price of the Debentures.   Specifically,
          the Underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering of
          the Debentures, creating  a short position in  the Debentures for
          their own accounts.   In addition, to cover overallotments  or to
          stabilize the  price of the Debentures, the  Underwriters may bid
          for, and purchase, the  Debentures in the open market.   Finally,
          in the offering  of the Debentures, the  Underwriters may reclaim
          selling  concessions allowed  to  a dealer  for distributing  the
          Debentures   in  the  offering  if  the  Underwriters  repurchase
          previously  distributed  Debentures  in  transactions   to  cover
          syndicate  short positions,  in  stablilization  transactions  or
          otherwise.  Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the
          market price  of the Debentures above  independent market levels.
          The Underwriters  are not required to engage  in these activities
          and may end any of these activities at any time.


                                      S-7 
     <PAGE>                                      
     

          PROSPECTUS


          $448,850,000


          TEXAS UTILITIES ELECTRIC COMPANY

          FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS

          DEBT SECURITIES


               Texas Utilities Electric Company (Company) intends to  offer
          from  time to  time  up to  $448,850,000  in aggregate  principal
          amount  of  (i)  its  First  Mortgage  Bonds  (New  Bonds),  (ii)
          unsecured   debt   securities  of   the  Company   consisting  of
          debentures,  notes or  other unsecured  evidence  of indebtedness
          (Debt Securities), or (iii) any  combination of the foregoing, in
          one or more series at prices and on terms to be determined at the
          time of sale.   New  Bonds and Debt  Securities are  collectively
          referred to herein as "Securities."

               For each  issue of Securities  for which this  Prospectus is
          being delivered (Offered Bonds or Offered Debt Securities, as the
          case  may be, and, together, Offered Securities) there will be an
          accompanying Prospectus Supplement  (Prospectus Supplement)  that
          sets forth, without limitation and  to the extent applicable, the
          specific designation, aggregate  principal amount,  denomination,
          maturity, premium, if any,  rate of interest (which may  be fixed
          or variable) or method of calculation thereof, time of payment of
          interest, any terms for  redemption, any sinking fund provisions,
          the initial public offering price, the principal amounts, if any,
          to  be purchased by underwriters  and any other  special terms of
          the Offered Securities.

               The  Company may  sell the Securities  through underwriters,
          dealers or agents, or directly to one or more of a limited number
          of purchasers.   If any agents of the Company or any underwriters
          are involved in the sales of the Offered Securities, the names of
          such agents  or such underwriters and  any applicable commissions
          or discounts will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.  See
          PLAN  OF DISTRIBUTION  for possible  indemnification arrangements
          for underwriters and agents.

          THESE SECURITIES  HAVE NOT  BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED  BY THE
          SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  BY ANY  STATE SECURITIES
          COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR ANY
          STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
          OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS. ANY  REPRESENTATION  TO THE  CONTRARY  IS A
          CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


          The date of this Prospectus is July 9, 1997.

     <PAGE>

                   INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

               The  following  documents  filed  by the  Company  with  the
          Securities and Exchange Commission  (Commission) pursuant to  the
          Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  as amended  (1934  Act), are
          incorporated herein by reference:

               1.  Annual Report on Form  10-K for the  year ended December
          31, 1996 (1996 10-K).

               2. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
          31, 1997.

               3. Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 31, 1997.

               All documents subsequently filed  by the Company pursuant to
          Section 13(a),  13(c), 14 or 15(d)  of the 1934 Act  and prior to
          the termination of the  offering hereunder shall be deemed  to be
          incorporated by reference  in this  Prospectus and to  be a  part
          hereof  from  the date  of  filing of  such  documents; provided,
          however,  that the  documents  enumerated above  or  subsequently
          filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13 of the 1934 Act prior
          to  the filing with the  Commission of the  Company's most recent
          Annual Report on Form 10-K shall not be incorporated by reference
          in this  Prospectus or be a part hereof from and after the filing
          of  such  Annual Report  on  Form 10-K. The  documents  which are
          incorporated  by  reference  in  this  Prospectus  are  sometimes
          hereinafter referred to as the "Incorporated Documents."

               Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be
          deemed  to  be  modified  or  superseded  for  purposes  of  this
          Prospectus  to the extent that a statement contained herein or in
          any  other subsequently  filed  document which  is  deemed to  be
          incorporated by reference herein  or in the Prospectus Supplement
          modifies  or supersedes  such  statement. Any  such statement  so
          modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
          or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

               THE COMPANY  HEREBY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE  WITHOUT CHARGE TO
          EACH  PERSON, INCLUDING ANY BENEFICIAL  OWNER, TO WHOM  A COPY OF
          THIS PROSPECTUS HAS  BEEN DELIVERED, UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST
          OF ANY  SUCH PERSON, A  COPY OF ANY  AND ALL OF  THE INCORPORATED
          DOCUMENTS  WHICH  HAVE  BEEN  OR  MAY  BE  INCORPORATED  IN  THIS
          PROSPECTUS BY  REFERENCE, OTHER  THAN EXHIBITS TO  SUCH DOCUMENTS
          (UNLESS SUCH EXHIBITS ARE SPECIFICALLY  INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
          INTO SUCH DOCUMENTS). REQUESTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:  SECRETARY,
          TEXAS  UTILITIES  ELECTRIC  COMPANY,  ENERGY  PLAZA,  1601  BRYAN
          STREET, DALLAS, TEXAS 75201, TELEPHONE NUMBER (214) 812-4600.


                                AVAILABLE INFORMATION

               The Company is subject  to the informational requirements of
          the  1934 Act  and in  accordance therewith files  reports, proxy
          statements  and  other  information  with  the  Commission.  Such
          reports,  proxy statements  and  other information  filed by  the
          Company  can be  inspected  and copied  at  the public  reference
          facilities maintained by  the Commission at Room 1024,  450 Fifth
          Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549, and  at  the  following
          Regional Offices of the  Commission: Chicago Regional Office, 500
          West Madison  Street, Suite 1400,  Chicago, Illinois  60661-2511;
          and New York Regional  Office, 7 World Trade Center,  Suite 1300,
          New York,  New York 10048.  Copies of such  material can  also be
          obtained from the  Public Reference Section of  the Commission at
          450  Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington, D.C.  20549 at  prescribed
          rates. In  addition, the Commission  maintains a  World Wide  Web
          site   (http://www.sec.gov)  that  contains   reports  and  other
          information  filed  by  the  Company.  Certain  Depositary Shares
          representing  fractional   interests  in  shares   of  cumulative
          preferred stock of the  Company are listed on the  New York Stock
          Exchange,  where  reports and  other  information  concerning the
          Company may be inspected.

                                      2 
     <PAGE>                                      

               Securityholders  of the  Company may  obtain, upon  request,
          copies  of an  Annual  Report on  Form 10-K  containing financial
          statements as of the end  of the most recent fiscal  year audited
          and  reported upon  (with  an opinion  expressed) by  independent
          auditors.

                                     THE COMPANY

                    The  Company was  incorporated  under the  laws of  the
          State  of Texas  in 1982  and has  perpetual existence  under the
          provisions  of the Texas Business Corporation Act. The Company is
          an  electric  utility  engaged   in  the  generation,   purchase,
          transmission, distribution  and  sale of  electric energy  wholly
          within the State of Texas. The principal executive offices of the
          Company are  located at Energy Plaza, 1601  Bryan Street, Dallas,
          Texas 75201; the telephone number is (214) 812-4600.

                    The  Company  is  the  principal  subsidiary  of  Texas
          Utilities Company (Texas Utilities).   The other electric utility
          subsidiaries of Texas Utilities are Southwestern Electric Service
          Company,  which   is  engaged  in  the   purchase,  transmission,
          distribution and sale of  electric energy in ten counties  in the
          eastern and central parts of Texas with a population estimated at
          126,900,  and  Texas  Utilities  Australia Pty.  Ltd.,  owner  of
          Eastern  Energy  Limited,  which  is  engaged  in  the  purchase,
          distribution,   marketing  and   sale  of   electric   energy  to
          approximately  481,000  customers  in  the  State   of  Victoria,
          Australia.   Texas  Utilities also  has three  other subsidiaries
          which perform  specialized functions within  the Texas  Utilities
          Company  system:  Texas Utilities Fuel Company owns a natural gas
          pipeline  system,  acquires, stores  and  delivers  fuel gas  and
          provides  other  fuel  services  at cost  for  the  generation of
          electric energy  by the  Company; Texas Utilities  Mining Company
          owns,  leases and  operates  fuel production  facilities for  the
          surface mining and recovery of lignite at cost for the generation
          of electric energy  by the Company  and Texas Utilities  Services
          Inc.  provides  financial,  accounting,  information  technology,
          environmental services, customer services, personnel, procurement
          and  other administrative services at cost.  In April 1996, Texas
          Utilities announced that  it had entered into  a merger agreement
          with ENSERCH  Corporation  (ENSERCH).   Under  the terms  of  the
          agreement, Lone Star Gas Company and Lone Star Pipeline  Company,
          the  local distribution  and pipeline  divisions of  ENSERCH, and
          other  businesses,   excluding   Enserch  Exploration   Inc.,   a
          subsidiary of ENSERCH, will be acquired by a new holding company,
          which  will be named Texas Utilities Company  and will own all of
          the common stock of ENSERCH and Texas Utilities.  Consummation of
          the  transaction is subject, among  other matters, to the receipt
          of various regulatory authorizations, some  of which have not yet
          been obtained.

                    The Company's  service area  covers the north  central,
          eastern and western  parts of Texas, with  a population estimated
          at  5,890,000 --  about one-third  of  the  population of  Texas.
          Electric service is provided in 91 counties and  372 incorporated
          municipalities, including Dallas, Fort Worth,  Arlington, Irving,
          Plano,  Waco,  Mesquite, Grand  Prairie,  Wichita Falls,  Odessa,
          Midland, Carrollton, Tyler, Richardson and Killeen. The area is a
          diversified commercial  and  industrial center  with  substantial
          banking,   insurance,  communications,   electronics,  aerospace,
          petrochemical and specialized steel manufacturing, and automotive
          and  aircraft  assembly.  The  territory  served  includes  major
          portions of the oil and gas fields in the Permian  Basin and East
          Texas, as  well as substantial  farming and ranching  sections of
          the State.  It also includes the  Dallas-Fort Worth International
          Airport and the Alliance Airport.


                                   USE OF PROCEEDS

               The  Company is  offering hereby  a maximum  of $448,850,000
          aggregate principal amount of Securities. The  net proceeds to be
          received by the Company from the sale of the Securities, together
          with  funds  from operations,  are expected  to  be used  for the
          redemption  or repurchase of certain  of its outstanding debt and
          preferred  stock, and may also  be used to  meet expenditures for
          its  construction  program  and  for  other  corporate  purposes,
          including the  repayment of  short-term  borrowings incurred  for
          similar  purposes and outstanding at  the time of  any such sale.

                                      3
     <PAGE>

          Proceeds may  be temporarily  invested in short-term  instruments
          pending their application to the foregoing purposes.

               Reference is made to the Incorporated Documents with respect
          to the  Company's estimated capital expenditures  and its general
          financing plan and capabilities.   Reference is also made  to the
          Prospectus  Supplement  applicable  to  each  series  of  Offered
          Securities.


                          RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

               The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the years
          ended  December 31, 1992 through 1996 and the twelve months ended
          March  31,  1997  was 2.48,  2.00,  2.45,  2.02,  2.95 and  2.94,
          respectively.   The computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed
          charges  does not  include interest  payments made  by affiliated
          companies on senior notes,  which are recovered currently through
          the fuel component of rates.


                               DESCRIPTION OF NEW BONDS

               General.  The New Bonds are to be issued under the Company's
          Mortgage  and Deed  of Trust,  dated as  of December 1,  1983, as
          supplemented,  with  The  Bank  of New  York,  Trustee  (Mortgage
          Trustee),  referred  to  herein  as  the  "Mortgage."    Whenever
          particular  provisions  or  defined  terms in  the  Mortgage  are
          referred to under this DESCRIPTION OF NEW BONDS,  such provisions
          or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein.

               As herein  summarized, bonds  now or hereafter  issued under
          the Mortgage (Bonds) are, or will be, secured by a first mortgage
          Lien on certain property  of the Company. Bonds issued  under the
          Mortgage are equally secured and pari passu.

               The Mortgage  is an  exhibit to the  Registration Statement.
          The statements herein concerning the Mortgage, the New  Bonds and
          the Bonds  are  merely  an  outline and  do  not  purport  to  be
          complete. Such  statements include terms defined  in the Mortgage
          and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Mortgage.

               The  New Bonds  will  be  issuable  in  the  form  of  fully
          registered  bonds in  denominations  of $1,000  and any  multiple
          thereof, unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement.
          The New Bonds may  be transferred without charge, other  than for
          applicable taxes  or other governmental  charges, at The  Bank of
          New York, New York, New York.

               Maturity  and Interest  Payments. Reference  is made  to the
          Prospectus  Supplement for the date or dates on which the Offered
          Bonds  will mature;  the rate  or rates  per  annum at  which the
          Offered Bonds will  bear interest;  and the times  at which  such
          interest will be payable.

               Redemption,  Repayment or Purchase  of New  Bonds. The  New
          Bonds may be redeemable, in whole or in part, on not less than 30
          days' notice either at the option  of the Company or as  required
          by the Mortgage.

               Reference  is  made to  the  Prospectus  Supplement for  the
          redemption terms, if any, and other specific terms of the Offered
          Bonds.

               If,  at  the  time  notice  of  redemption  is   given,  the
          redemption moneys  are  not held  by  the Mortgage  Trustee,  the
          redemption  may be made subject to their receipt on or before the
          date fixed for redemption and such  notice shall be of no  effect
          unless such moneys are so received.

                                      4
     <PAGE>

               While the Mortgage  contains provisions for  the maintenance
          of  the Mortgaged  and Pledged  Property, the  Mortgage does  not
          permit redemption of Bonds pursuant to these provisions. There is
          no sinking fund under the Mortgage.

               Cash  deposited under any provisions  of the Mortgage may be
          applied (with  certain exceptions) to the  purchase or redemption
          of Bonds of any series. (Mortgage, Arts. XII and XIII.)

               In addition  to or in lieu  of any terms of  redemption, the
          Company may grant holders of a particular series of New Bonds the
          right to tender their bonds prior to maturity to  the Company for
          repayment at stated prices and at stated times. Reference is made
          to the Prospectus Supplement for  the terms of any such  right to
          tender New Bonds.

               Security and Priority. The Bonds issued  under the Mortgage
          will  be  secured  by a  first  mortgage  Lien  of the  Mortgage.
          Substantially  all of  the Company's  property is subject  to the
          Lien of the Mortgage.

               The   Lien  of   the   Mortgage  is   subject  to   Excepted
          Encumbrances,  including  tax  and  construction  liens, purchase
          money liens and certain other exceptions.

               There  are excepted from the  Lien of the  Mortgage all cash
          and  securities (except those specifically deposited); equipment,
          materials  or supplies  held for  sale or other  disposition; any
          fuel  and similar consumable materials and supplies; automobiles,
          other vehicles, aircraft  and vessels; timber, minerals,  mineral
          rights   and  royalties;   receivables,  contracts,   leases  and
          operating agreements; electric energy, gas, water, steam, ice and
          other  products for sale, distribution  or other use; natural gas
          wells; and gas transportation lines or other property used in the
          sale of natural gas to customers or to a natural gas distribution
          or  pipeline  company, up  to the  point  of connection  with any
          distribution system.

               The Mortgage contains  provisions subjecting  after-acquired
          property to the Lien thereof. These provisions may be limited, at
          the option of the  Company, in the case of  consolidation, merger
          or sale of  substantially all of the Company's assets. (Mortgage,
          Sec. 18.03.) In addition,  after-acquired property may be subject
          to purchase money mortgages and other liens or defects in title.

               The Mortgage provides that the Mortgage Trustee shall have a
          lien upon the  mortgaged property,  prior to the  Bonds, for  the
          payment  of  its reasonable  compensation  and  expenses and  for
          indemnity against certain liabilities. (Mortgage, Sec. 19.09.)

               Issuance of Additional Bonds.   The maximum principal amount
          of Bonds which may  be issued under the Mortgage  is not limited.
          Bonds of any series may be issued from time to time on the  basis
          of: (1) 70% of qualified Property Additions  after adjustments to
          offset retirements; (2) retirement of Bonds or certain prior lien
          bonds; and/or  (3) deposits of  cash. With certain  exceptions in
          the case  of  (2) above,  the  issuance of  Bonds  is subject  to
          Adjusted Net Earnings of the Company (before income taxes) being,
          for 12  out of the preceding  15 months, equal to  at least twice
          the Annual  Interest  Requirements  on  all  Bonds  at  the  time
          outstanding,  including  the  additional  issue  and  all   other
          indebtedness  of prior  rank.  In general,  interest on  variable
          interest bonds, if any,  is calculated using the average  rate in
          effect during such 12 month period.

               Property  Additions generally  include electric,  gas, steam
          and/or  hot  water utility  property  but  not fuel,  securities,
          automobiles,  other  vehicles  or  aircraft,  or  property   used
          principally for the production or gathering of natural gas.

               Unfunded net Property  Additions, at cost, of  approximately
          $6,838,000,000 were available under  the Mortgage as of April 30,
          1997.  Up to  approximately  $4,787,000,000  aggregate  principal

                                      5
     <PAGE>

          amount of Bonds could be issued based on such Property Additions.
          In  addition,  approximately  $1,738,000,000 aggregate  principal
          amount  of Bonds could be issued on  the basis of Bonds that have
          been retired, subject, where applicable, to the earnings test and
          other requirements of the Mortgage.

               The issuance  of Bonds  on the  basis of  Property Additions
          subject  to prior liens  is restricted. (Mortgage,  Secs. 1.04 to
          1.07 and 3.01 to 7.01.)

               Release and Substitution  of Property. Property  subject to
          the  Lien of the Mortgage may be  released upon the basis of: (1)
          the  deposit  of cash  or, to  a  limited extent,  purchase money
          mortgages,  (2) Property Additions,  after making adjustments for
          certain prior lien bonds  outstanding against Property Additions,
          and/or  (3) waiver  of  the right  to  issue Bonds.  Cash may  be
          withdrawn  upon the  bases  stated in  (2)  and (3)  above.  When
          property released is not funded property, Property Additions used
          to  effect  the release  may be  available  as credits  under the
          Mortgage. Similar provisions are in effect as to cash proceeds of
          such property.  The  Mortgage contains  special  provisions  with
          respect to certain prior lien bonds deposited and  disposition of
          moneys received  on deposited prior lien  bonds. (Mortgage, Secs.
          1.05, 7.02, 7.03, 9.05, 10.01 to 10.04 and 13.03 to 13.09.)

               Dividend  Restrictions.  The  Mortgage  provides  that  the
          Company  may  declare  or  pay dividends  (other  than  dividends
          payable solely in shares  of its common stock)  on any shares  of
          its  common  stock only  out of  the unreserved  and unrestricted
          retained  earnings  of the  Company and  will  not make  any such
          declaration or payment when the Company is insolvent, or when the
          payment  thereof would render  the Company  insolvent. (Mortgage,
          Sec. 9.07.) The  amount restricted is subject  to being increased
          or  decreased on the basis of various factors, and any restricted
          retained earnings can be otherwise used by the Company. Reference
          is made to the Incorporated Documents for information relating to
          other restrictions.

               Special Provisions  for  Retirement of Bonds. If  mortgaged
          property is  condemned or  sold (other  than in  a project  to be
          jointly  owned by  the Company  and others)  to  any governmental
          authority  resulting in  the receipt  of $50,000,000  or more  as
          proceeds, the Company (subject  to certain conditions) must apply
          such  proceeds, less  certain  deductions, to  the retirement  of
          Bonds. (Mortgage, Sec. 9.14.)

               Modifications.   The  rights of  bondholders may  be modified
          with the consent of holders of 60% of the Bonds, or, if less than
          all  series of Bonds are  adversely affected, the  consent of the
          holders  of 60% of the Bonds adversely affected and (unless Bonds
          issued prior to 1989 are retired or the holders thereof otherwise
          consent) of the holders of  a majority of all Bonds. In  general,
          no modification of the terms of payment of principal, premium, if
          any,  or  interest  and no  modification  affecting  the  Lien or
          reducing the  percentage required for  modification is  effective
          against any bondholder without  such holder's consent. (Mortgage,
          Art. XXI.)

               Defaults and Notice  Thereof.  Defaults  are defined in  the
          Mortgage as: default in payment of principal; default for 60 days
          in payment of interest  or an installment of any fund required to
          be applied to the purchase or redemption of any Bonds; default in
          payment of  principal or interest  with respect to  certain prior
          lien   bonds;  certain   events  in  bankruptcy,   insolvency  or
          reorganization; and default in other covenants  for 90 days after
          notice. (Mortgage, Sec. 15.01.) The Mortgage Trustee may withhold
          notice of default (except in the case of a default in the payment
          of  principal, interest or an installment of any fund required to
          be applied  to the purchase  or redemption  of any  Bonds) if  it
          determines  that it is in  the best interest  of the bondholders.
          (Mortgage, Sec. 15.02.)

               The Mortgage Trustee or the holders of 25 % of the Bonds may
          declare the principal  and interest due  and payable on  Default,
          but a majority  may annul  such declaration if  such Default  has
          been  cured.  (Mortgage, Sec.  15.03.)  No  holder  of Bonds  may
          enforce  the Lien  of the  Mortgage without  giving  the Mortgage
          Trustee written notice of a Default  and unless the holders of 25
          % of the  Bonds have requested  the Mortgage  Trustee to act  and
          have  offered  it reasonable  opportunity  to  act and  indemnity
          satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to
          be incurred thereby and the Mortgage Trustee shall have failed to

                                      6
     <PAGE>

          act. (Mortgage, Sec.  15.16.) The  holders of a  majority of  the
          Bonds may direct  the time,  method and place  of conducting  any
          proceedings for any  remedy available to the Mortgage  Trustee or
          exercising any trust  or power conferred on the Mortgage Trustee.
          (Mortgage, Sec. 15.07.)  The Mortgage Trustee is  not required to
          risk its funds or incur personal liability if there is reasonable
          ground for  believing that  repayment is not  reasonably assured.
          (Mortgage, Sec. 19.08.)

               Evidence   to  be  Furnished   to   the   Mortgage  Trustee.
          Compliance  with  Mortgage  provisions  is  evidenced by  written
          statements of Company officers or persons selected or paid by the
          Company. In certain cases,  opinions of counsel and certification
          of an  engineer, accountant,  appraiser or  other expert  (who in
          some  cases must be  independent) must be  furnished. The Company
          must  give the Mortgage Trustee an annual statement as to whether
          or  not  the  Company has  fulfilled  its  obligations  under the
          Mortgage throughout the preceding calendar year.


                            DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

               The Debt Securities  will be  issued in one  or more  series
          under an Indenture or Indentures (each an  Indenture) between the
          Company  and The Bank of New York or other financial institutions
          to be named,  as Trustee  (each an Indenture  Trustee), which  is
          filed as an exhibit  to the Registration Statement of  which this
          Prospectus  forms a part.  The following description of the terms
          of the Debt  Securities does not  purport to  be complete and  is
          qualified in its entirety  by reference to (i) the  Indenture and
          (ii)  one or  more officer's  certificates establishing  the Debt
          Securities  to  which  a  form  of  Debt  Security  is  attached.
          Whenever particular provisions or  defined terms in the Indenture
          are referred  to under this DESCRIPTION OF  DEBT SECURITIES, such
          provisions or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein.

               General.    The  Indenture  provides  for  the  issuance  of
          debentures, notes or other  unsecured evidence of indebtedness by
          the  Company (each a Debt  Security) in an  unlimited amount from
          time  to time.  All Debt Securities will be unsecured obligations
          of the Company.   All Debt Securities issued under  the Indenture
          will rank  equally and  ratably  with all  other Debt  Securities
          issued under the Indenture.   The Indenture does not  limit other
          unsecured debt.   The Company's financial  statements included in
          the Incorporated Documents show the amount of such other debt and
          of  the Company's First Mortgage Bonds Outstanding at the date of
          such  statements.   See the  Prospectus Supplement  applicable to
          each series of Offered Debt Securities.

               The   applicable   Prospectus   Supplement   or   Prospectus
          Supplements  will  describe  the  following  terms  of  the  Debt
          Securities: (1) the title  of the Debt Securities; (2)  any limit
          upon the aggregate principal  amount of the Debt  Securities; (3)
          the date or dates on  which the principal of the Debt  Securities
          is payable or the  method of determination thereof; (4)  the rate
          or rates,  if any,  or  the method  by which  such  rate will  be
          determined, at which  the Debt Securities will  bear interest, if
          any, the date or dates from  which any such interest will accrue,
          the Interest Payment  Dates on  which any such  interest will  be
          payable and the Regular  Record Date for any interest  payable on
          any  Interest  Payment Date  and the  Person  or Persons  to whom
          interest  on such Debt Securities will be payable on any Interest
          Payment Date, if other  than the Persons in whose names such Debt
          Securities are registered at the close of business on the Regular
          Record Date for  such interest;  (5) the place  or places  where,
          subject  to the terms of  the Indenture as  described below under
          Payment  and Paying Agents, the principal of and premium, if any,
          and  interest on the Debt  Securities will be  payable and where,
          subject  to the terms of  the Indenture as  described below under
          Registration and  Transfer, the Debt Securities  may be presented
          for  registration of transfer or exchange and the place or places
          where notices and demands  to or upon  the Company in respect  of
          the Debt Securities and the Indenture may be served; the Security
          Registrar for such  Debt Securities;  and, if such  is the  case,
          that  the  principal of  such  Debt  Securities will  be  payable
          without  presentment  or surrender  thereof;  (6)  the period  or
          periods within,  or date or dates on,  which, the price or prices
          at  which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities
          may  be  redeemed, in  whole or  in part,  at  the option  of the
          Company;  (7)  the  obligation or  obligations,  if  any, of  the
          Company to redeem or purchase any of the Debt Securities pursuant
          to any sinking  fund or other mandatory redemption  provisions or
          at the option of  the Holder thereof,  and the period or  periods

                                      7
     <PAGE>

          within which, or the date or  dates on which, the price or prices
          at  which  and  the terms  and  conditions  upon  which the  Debt
          Securities  will be redeemed or  purchased, in whole  or in part,
          pursuant  to such  obligation, and  applicable exceptions  to the
          requirements of a notice  of redemption in the case  of mandatory
          redemption or redemption  at the  option of the  Holder; (8)  the
          denominations  in which any Debt Securities  will be issuable, if
          other  than denominations  of  $1,000 and  any integral  multiple
          thereof;  (9) the  currency  or  currencies, including  composite
          currencies in which the  principal of or any premium  or interest
          on  the Debt  Securities  will  be  payable  (if  other  than  in
          Dollars); (10)  if the principal of or any premium or interest on
          the Debt  Securities is  to be  payable, at  the election of  the
          Company or the  Holder thereof, in a coin or  currency other than
          that in which the Debt  Securities are stated to be payable,  the
          period  or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon
          which, such election is to  be made; (11) if the principal  of or
          premium or interest on the Debt  Securities is to be payable,  or
          is  to be  payable at  the election  of the  Company or  a Holder
          thereof,  in securities or other property, the type and amount of
          such securities or other  property, or the method or  other means
          by  which such  amount  will be  determined,  and the  period  or
          periods within  which, and the  terms and conditions  upon which,
          any such  election may  be made;  (12) if  the amount  payable in
          respect  of principal of  or any premium or  interest on the Debt
          Securities  may be determined with reference to an index or other
          fact or event  ascertainable outside of the Indenture, the manner
          in which such  amounts will be determined; (13) if other than the
          principal amount thereof, the portion of the  principal amount of
          the  Debt Securities  which will be  payable upon  declaration of
          acceleration of the Maturity thereof; (14) any Events of Default,
          in  addition to those specified in the Indenture, with respect to
          the  Debt Securities  and any  covenants of  the Company  for the
          benefit of the  Holders of  the Debt Securities,  in addition  to
          those specified  in  the  Indenture;  (15)  the  terms,  if  any,
          pursuant  to which the Debt  Securities may be  converted into or
          exchanged  for shares of capital stock or other securities of the
          Company or any other Person; (16) the obligations or instruments,
          if  any, which will be  considered to be  Eligible Obligations in
          respect of such Debt  Securities denominated in a currency  other
          than  Dollars or in a  composite currency, and  any additional or
          alternative  provisions for  the reinstatement  of the  Company's
          indebtedness  in  respect  of  such  Debt  Securities  after  the
          satisfaction and  discharge thereof; (17) if  the Debt Securities
          are  to be  issued in  global form,  (i) any  limitations  on the
          rights  of the  Holder  or Holders  of  such Debt  Securities  to
          transfer  or exchange the same  or to obtain  the registration of
          transfer  thereof,  (ii) any  limitations  on the  rights  of the
          Holder  or Holders  thereof  to obtain  certificates therefor  in
          definitive form in lieu of temporary  form and (iii) any and  all
          other matters incidental  to such  Debt Securities;  (18) if  the
          Debt Securities are to  be issuable as bearer securities  any and
          all  matters incidental thereto; (19) to the extent not addressed
          in item (17) above, any limitations on the rights of the  Holders
          of  the  Debt  Securities  to   transfer  or  exchange  the  Debt
          Securities or to obtain the registration of transfer thereof, and
          if a service charge will be made for the registration of transfer
          or  exchange of the Debt Securities, the amount or terms thereof;
          (20) any exceptions  to the provisions governing  payments due on
          legal holidays or  any variations in  the definition of  Business
          Day  with respect  to such  Debt Securities;  and (21)  any other
          terms  of   the  Debt  Securities,  not   inconsistent  with  the
          provisions of the Indenture. (Indenture, Section 301).

               Debt  Securities  may  be  sold at  a  discount  below their
          principal amount.   Certain special United  States federal income
          tax considerations, if any, applicable to Debt Securities sold at
          an original  issue discount  may be  described in  the applicable
          Prospectus Supplement. In addition, certain special United States
          Federal income tax or other considerations, if any, applicable to
          any  Debt  Securities which  are  denominated  in  a currency  or
          currency  unit  other  than  Dollars  may  be  described  in  the
          applicable Prospectus Supplement.

               Except  as  may otherwise  be  described  in the  applicable
          Prospectus Supplement,  the covenants contained  in the Indenture
          would not  afford Holders  of Debt  Securities protection  in the
          event of a highly-leveraged transaction involving the Company.

               Payment and Paying Agents.  Except as may be provided in the
          applicable Prospectus Supplement, interest,  if any, on each Debt
          Security  payable on each Interest  Payment Date will  be paid to
          the Person in  whose name such Debt Security is  registered as of
          the close of business on the Regular Record Date relating to such
          Interest Payment Date;  provided, however, that  interest payable
          at  maturity  (whether at  stated  maturity,  upon redemption  or

                                      8
     <PAGE>

          otherwise, hereinafter a Maturity) will be paid  to the Person to
          whom  principal is paid. However, if there  has been a default in
          the  payment of  interest on  any  Debt Security,  such defaulted
          interest may be payable to the Holder of such Debt Security as of
          the close of business on a date selected by the Indenture Trustee
          which is not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to
          the  date proposed by the  Company for payment  on such defaulted
          interest  or in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
          requirements  of  any  securities  exchange on  which  such  Debt
          Security  may  be listed,  if  the Indenture  Trustee  deems such
          manner of payment practicable (Indenture, Section 307).

               Unless  otherwise specified  in  the  applicable  Prospectus
          Supplement, the  principal of and  premium, if any,  and interest
          on,  the  Debt  Securities  at  Maturity  will  be  payable  upon
          presentation of the Debt Securities at the corporate trust office
          of The Bank of New York, in The City of New York, as Paying Agent
          for the  Company.  The Company may change the Place of Payment on
          the Debt Securities,  may appoint one  or more additional  Paying
          Agents  (including the Company) and may  remove any Paying Agent,
          all at its discretion (Indenture, Section 602).

               Registration  and Transfer.   Unless otherwise  specified in
          the  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,  the  transfer  of  Debt
          Securities  may  be  registered,   and  Debt  Securities  may  be
          exchanged  for other  Debt  Securities  of  the  same  series  or
          tranche,  of  authorized  denominations  and of  like  tenor  and
          aggregate  principal amount, at the corporate trust office of The
          Bank of New  York in The City of New  York, as Security Registrar
          for the Debt  Securities. The  Company may change  the place  for
          registration of transfer  and exchange of the Debt Securities and
          may designate one or more additional places for such registration
          and exchange, all at its discretion. Except as otherwise provided
          in the  applicable Prospectus Supplement, no  service charge will
          be made for any  transfer or exchange of the Debt Securities, but
          the Company may require payment of  a sum sufficient to cover any
          tax  or  other  governmental  charge  that   may  be  imposed  in
          connection  with any registration of transfer  or exchange of the
          Debt Securities. The Company  will not be required to  execute or
          to provide for the  registration of transfer of, or  the exchange
          of, (a)  any Debt Security  during a period  of 15 days  prior to
          giving any notice of redemption or (b) any Debt Security selected
          for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion
          of any Debt Security  being redeemed in part (Indenture,  Section
          305).
           
               Defeasance.   The  principal  amount of  any series  of Debt
          Securities issued under the Indenture will be deemed to have been
          paid for purposes of the Indenture and the entire indebtedness of
          the  Company in  respect  thereof will  be  deemed to  have  been
          satisfied  and discharged  if there  shall have  been irrevocably
          deposited with  the Indenture  Trustee  or any  paying agent,  in
          trust:  (a)  money in an amount which will  be sufficient, or (b)
          in the case of  a deposit made prior to the  maturity of the Debt
          Securities,   Eligible  Obligations   (as  defined   below),  the
          principal  of and  the interest  on which  when due,  without any
          regard  to  reinvestment  thereof,  will  provide  moneys  which,
          together  with the money,  if any, deposited with  or held by the
          Indenture Trustee,  will be sufficient,  or (c) a  combination of
          (a) and  (b)  which  will be  sufficient,  to pay  when  due  the
          principal of and premium, if any,  and interest, if any, due  and
          to become  due on  the Debt  Securities of  such series  that are
          Outstanding.   For  this purpose,  Eligible  Obligations  include
          direct  obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed
          by, the United  States of America entitled to  the benefit of the
          full  faith  and  credit  thereof  and  certificates,  depositary
          receipts or  other instruments which evidence  a direct ownership
          interest  in such  obligations  or in  any  specific interest  or
          principal  payments  due  in  respect thereof  and  which  do not
          contain provisions permitting the redemption or  other prepayment
          thereof at the option of the issuer thereof.

               Consolidation, Merger, and Sale of Assets.   Under the terms
          of the Indenture, the  Company may not consolidate with  or merge
          into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease its properties
          and assets  substantially as  an entirety  to any entity,  unless
          (i) the corporation  formed by  such consolidation or  into which
          the  Company is merged or the entity which acquires by conveyance
          or  transfer, or  which leases,  the property  and assets  of the
          Company substantially  as an entirety shall be a entity organized
          and validly existing under the  laws of any domestic jurisdiction
          and such  entity expressly  assumes the Company's  obligations on
          all  Debt Securities  and under  the  Indenture, (ii) immediately
          after  giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and
          no event which,  after notice  or lapse  of time  or both,  would
          become  an  Event   of  Default,  shall  have   occurred  and  be

                                      9
     <PAGE>

          continuing,  and (iii) the  Company shall  have delivered  to the
          Indenture  Trustee an  Officer's  Certificate and  an Opinion  of
          Counsel as  provided in the Indenture  (Indenture, Section 1101).
          The  terms of  the Indenture  do not  restrict the  Company in  a
          merger in which the Company is the surviving entity.

               Events of Default.  Each of the following will constitute an
          Event of Default  under the  Indenture with respect  to the  Debt
          Securities of any series:  (a) failure to pay any interest on the
          Debt  Securities of  such series  within 30  days after  the same
          becomes due and payable; (b) failure to pay principal or premium,
          if any,  on the  Debt  Securities of  such  series when  due  and
          payable; (c) failure to perform, or breach of, any other covenant
          or  warranty  of  the Company  in  the  Indenture  (other than  a
          covenant or warranty of  the Company in the Indenture  solely for
          the benefit  of one or more series  of Debt Securities other than
          such series) for 90  days after written notice to  the Company by
          the  Indenture  Trustee, or  to  the  Company and  the  Indenture
          Trustee by the Holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the
          Debt Securities of such series Outstanding under the Indenture as
          provided  in the  Indenture;  (d) the  entry  by a  court  having
          jurisdiction in the premises of (1) a decree or order for  relief
          in  respect of the Company  in an involuntary  case or proceeding
          under any  applicable  Federal or  state bankruptcy,  insolvency,
          reorganization  or other  similar law  or (2)  a decree  or order
          adjudging the Company  a bankrupt or  insolvent, or approving  as
          properly filed  a petition by one or  more Persons other than the
          Company  seeking  reorganization,   arrangement,  adjustment   or
          composition  of or in respect of the Company under any applicable
          Federal  or  state  law,  or appointing  a  custodian,  receiver,
          liquidator,  assignee,  trustee,  sequestrator  or  other similar
          official  for  the Company  or for  any  substantial part  of its
          property, or  ordering  the  winding  up or  liquidation  of  its
          affairs, and  any such  decree or  order for relief  or any  such
          other  decree or order shall have remained unstayed and in effect
          for a period of 90 consecutive  days; and (e) the commencement by
          the  Company  of  a  voluntary  case  or   proceeding  under  any
          applicable    Federal    or    state   bankruptcy,    insolvency,
          reorganization  or  other similar  law or  of  any other  case or
          proceeding  to be  adjudicated a  bankrupt or  insolvent, or  the
          consent by it  to the entry  of a decree  or order for relief  in
          respect of the Company  in a case or other similar  proceeding or
          to the  commencement  of any  bankruptcy  or insolvency  case  or
          proceeding  against it under any  applicable Federal or state law
          or the  filing by it of  a petition or answer  or consent seeking
          reorganization or  relief under  any applicable Federal  or state
          law, or  the consent by it  to the filing of such  petition or to
          the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver,
          liquidator,  assignee, trustee, sequestrator  or similar official
          of  the Company of any  substantial part of  its property, or the
          making by it  of an assignment for  the benefit of  creditors, or
          the admission  by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts
          generally as they become due, or the authorization of such action
          by the Board of Directors (Indenture, Section 801).

               An Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of a
          particular  series may  not  necessarily constitute  an Event  of
          Default  with respect  to  Debt Securities  of  any other  series
          issued under the Indenture.

               Remedies.   If  an Event  of Default due  to the  default in
          payment  of  principal  of or  interest  on  any  series of  Debt
          Securities or due to the default  in the performance or breach of
          any other covenant or  warranty of the Company applicable  to the
          Debt Securities of such  series but not applicable to  all series
          occurs and  is continuing, then  either the Indenture  Trustee or
          the  Holders of 33% in  principal amount of  the outstanding Debt
          Securities of such series may declare the principal of all of the
          Debt Securities of such series and interest accrued thereon to be
          due and payable immediately.   If an Event of Default due  to the
          default  in the performance of  any other covenants or agreements
          in the Indenture applicable to all Outstanding Debt Securities or
          due to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization
          of  the  Company  has  occurred  and  is  continuing,  either the
          Indenture  Trustee or  the  Holders  of  not  less  than  33%  in
          principal amount of  all Outstanding Debt Securities,  considered
          as  one class, and not the Holders  of the Debt Securities of any
          one of  such series may  make such  declaration of  acceleration.
          There  is  no  automatic  acceleration,  even  in  the  event  of
          bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company.

               At  any  time after  the  declaration  of acceleration  with
          respect to the  Debt Securities of any  series has been  made and
          before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been
          obtained,  the Event  or Events  of Default  giving rise  to such
          declaration of acceleration will,  without further act, be deemed

                                      10
     <PAGE>

          to have  been waived, and  such declaration and  its consequences
          will, without further act,  be deemed to have been  rescinded and
          annulled, if

               (a)  the Company  has paid  or deposited with  the Indenture
          Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

                    (1)  all  overdue interest  on  all Debt  Securities of
          such series;

                    (2)  the  principal of and premium, if any, on any Debt
          Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by
          such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate
          or rates prescribed therefor in such Debt Securities;

                    (3)  interest  upon overdue  interest  at  the rate  or
          rates prescribed therefor in such  Debt Securities, to the extent
          that payment of such interest is lawful; and

                    (4)  all amounts due to the Indenture Trustee under the
          Indenture; and

               (b)  any  other Event or  Events of Default  with respect to
          Debt  Securities of such series, other than the nonpayment of the
          principal  of the Debt Securities of such series which has become
          due solely by  such declaration of acceleration,  have been cured
          or waived as provided in the Indenture (Indenture, Section 802).

               Subject to the  provisions of the Indenture relating  to the
          duties of the Indenture Trustee in case an Event of Default shall
          occur and be continuing,  the Indenture Trustee will be  under no
          obligation  to exercise  any of  its rights  or powers  under the
          Indenture  at the  request or  direction of  any of  the Holders,
          unless such Holders shall  have offered to the Indenture  Trustee
          reasonable indemnity  (Indenture, Section 903).   If an  Event of
          Default has occurred and is continuing  in respect of a series of
          Debt   Securities,   subject   to   such   provisions   for   the
          indemnification  of  the  Indenture  Trustee, the  Holders  of  a
          majority in  principal amount of the  Outstanding Debt Securities
          of such series will have the right to direct the time, method and
          place  of conducting any  proceeding for any  remedy available to
          the Indenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
          on  the Indenture Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of
          such  series; provided,  however,  that if  an  Event of  Default
          occurs and  is continuing with respect to more than one series of
          Debt Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
          amount of  the Outstanding  Debt Securities of  all such  series,
          considered  as  one  class, will  have  the  right  to make  such
          direction, and not the Holders of the Debt Securities of  any one
          of such series; and provided,  further, that such direction  will
          not be in  conflict with any  rule of law  or with the  Indenture
          (Indenture, Section 812).

               No Holder of  Debt Securities  of any series  will have  any
          right to institute any proceeding with respect to  the Indenture,
          or  for the appointment  of a receiver  or a trustee,  or for any
          other remedy  thereunder, unless  (i) such Holder  has previously
          given to  the Indenture  Trustee written  notice of  a continuing
          Event  of Default  with respect  to the  Debt Securities  of such
          series, (ii) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
          principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of all series
          in respect of which an Event  of Default shall have occurred  and
          be continuing, considered as one class, have made written request
          to the Indenture Trustee, and such Holder or Holders have offered
          reasonable indemnity  to the Indenture Trustee  to institute such
          proceeding in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as
          trustee and (iii)  the Indenture Trustee has  failed to institute
          any  proceeding, and  has  not received  from  the Holders  of  a
          majority in  aggregate principal  amount of the  Outstanding Debt
          Securities  of such  series  a direction  inconsistent with  such
          request,  within 60  days after  such notice,  request and  offer
          (Indenture, Section 807).  However, such limitations do not apply
          to  a suit  instituted by  a Holder  of a  Debt Security  for the
          enforcement  of payment  of the  principal of  or any  premium or
          interest on such  Debt Security  on or after  the applicable  due
          date specified in such Debt Security (Indenture, Section 808).

               The  Company will  be required to  furnish to  the Indenture
          Trustee annually a statement by an appropriate officer as to such
          officer's  knowledge  of  the   Company's  compliance  with   all

                                      11
     <PAGE>

          conditions and covenants under  the Indenture, such compliance to
          be   determined  without  regard  to  any   period  of  grace  or
          requirement  of notice  under  the Indenture  (Indenture, Section
          606).

               Modification and Waiver.  Without the consent of any  Holder
          of  Debt Securities,  the Company  and the Indenture  Trustee may
          enter into one  or more  supplemental indentures for  any of  the
          following  purposes:  (a)  to  evidence  the  assumption  by  any
          permitted successor  to  the  Company  of the  covenants  of  the
          Company in the  Indenture and in  the Debt Securities; or  (b) to
          add  one or more covenants of the Company or other provisions for
          the benefit of all Holders or  for the benefit of the Holders of,
          or  to  remain  in  effect  only   so  long  as  there  shall  be
          Outstanding, Debt Securities of one or more specified series,  or
          one or more specified Tranches thereof, or to surrender any right
          or power conferred  upon the Company by the  Indenture; or (c) to
          add any additional Events of Default  with respect to Outstanding
          Debt Securities; or (d)  to change or eliminate any  provision of
          the  Indenture  or to  add any  new  provision to  the Indenture,
          provided  that  if  such  change, elimination  or  addition  will
          adversely affect the interests of  the Holders of Debt Securities
          of  any series or Tranche  in any material  respect, such change,
          elimination  or addition  will become  effective with  respect to
          such series or  Tranche only (1) when the consent  of the Holders
          of Debt Securities of such series or Tranche has been obtained in
          accordance  with the Indenture, or (2) when no Debt Securities of
          such series or Tranche remain Outstanding under the Indenture; or
          (e) to  provide collateral security for  all but not  part of the
          Debt Securities; or (f)  to establish the form  or terms of  Debt
          Securities of any  other series  or Tranche as  permitted by  the
          Indenture; or (g) to provide  for the authentication and delivery
          of   bearer   securities   and   coupons   appertaining   thereto
          representing interest, if any, thereon and for the procedures for
          the registration,  exchange and  replacement thereof and  for the
          giving of notice to, and the  solicitation of the vote or consent
          of,  the Holders  thereof,  and for  any  and all  other  matters
          incidental  thereto;  or (h)  to  evidence  and  provide for  the
          acceptance of  appointment of a successor  Indenture Trustee with
          respect to the  Debt Securities of one or more  series and to add
          to or change any of  the provisions of the Indenture as  shall be
          necessary to  provide for or to facilitate  the administration of
          the trusts under the Indenture  by more than one trustee; or  (i)
          to provide for the procedures  required to permit the utilization
          of  a  noncertificated  system   of  registration  for  the  Debt
          Securities of all or any series  or Tranche; or (j) to change any
          place  where  (1)  the principal  of  and  premium,  if any,  and
          interest,  if  any, on  all  or  any series  or  Tranche  of Debt
          Securities shall be payable, (2) all or any series  or Tranche of
          Debt Securities  may be surrendered for  registration of transfer
          or exchange and (3) notices and demands to or upon the Company in
          respect  of Debt Securities and  the Indenture may  be served; or
          (k) to  cure any ambiguity or  inconsistency or to add  or change
          any  other  provisions  with  respect to  matters  and  questions
          arising under  the Indenture, provided such  changes or additions
          shall not adversely affect  the interests of the Holders  of Debt
          Securities  of  any series  or  Tranche in  any  material respect
          (Indenture, Section 1201).

               The Holders  of a majority in aggregate  principal amount of
          the Debt  Securities of  all series  then  Outstanding may  waive
          compliance by the Company  with certain restrictive provisions of
          the  Indenture (Indenture, Section 607).  The Holders of not less
          than  a majority  in  principal amount  of  the Outstanding  Debt
          Securities of any  series may  waive any past  default under  the
          Indenture  with respect to such  series, except a  default in the
          payment of principal, premium,  or interest and certain covenants
          and provisions of  the Indenture  that cannot be  modified or  be
          amended  without the  consent of the  Holder of  each Outstanding
          Debt Security of such series affected (Indenture, Section 813).

               Without  limiting the  generality of  the foregoing,  if the
          Trust Indenture Act is amended after the date of the Indenture in
          such  a  way as  to  require  changes  to  the Indenture  or  the
          incorporation therein of additional provisions or so as to permit
          changes  to, or the elimination of, provisions which, at the date
          of  the Indenture or at any time thereafter, were required by the
          Trust  Indenture  Act  to  be  contained  in  the  Indenture, the
          Indenture will be deemed to have been amended so as to conform to
          such  amendment  of the  Trust Indenture  Act  or to  effect such
          changes,  additions  or  elimination,  and the  Company  and  the
          Indenture Trustee may, without the consent of any  Holders, enter
          into  one or more  supplemental indentures to  evidence or effect
          such amendment (Indenture, Section 1201).

                                      12
     <PAGE>

               Except  as provided above, the  consent of the  Holders of a
          majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities  of
          all series then Outstanding, considered as one class, is required
          for the purpose of adding any  provisions to, or changing in  any
          manner, or eliminating any of the provisions of, the Indenture or
          modifying in any  manner the rights of  the Holders of such  Debt
          Securities  under   the  Indenture   pursuant  to  one   or  more
          supplemental indentures; provided, however, that if less than all
          of  the  series  of  Debt  Securities  Outstanding  are  directly
          affected by  a proposed supplemental indenture,  then the consent
          only of the Holders  of a majority in aggregate  principal amount
          of  Outstanding  Debt  Securities   of  all  series  so  directly
          affected,  considered  as  one  class,  shall  be  required;  and
          provided,  further,  that if  the Debt  Securities of  any series
          shall  have been  issued in  more  than one  Tranche  and if  the
          proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect  the rights
          of  the Holders of Debt Securities of  one or more, but less than
          all, of such Tranches, then the  consent only of the Holders of a
          majority in  aggregate principal  amount of the  Outstanding Debt
          Securities of  all Tranches  so directly affected,  considered as
          one class, will be  required; and provided further, that  no such
          amendment or modification  may (a) change the  Stated Maturity of
          the  principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest
          on,  any Debt Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or
          the rate of interest thereon (or the amount of any installment of
          interest  thereon) or change the  method of calculating such rate
          or reduce  any premium  payable upon  the redemption  thereof, or
          change the coin or currency (or other property) in which any Debt
          Security  or any premium or  the interest thereon  is payable, or
          impair the right  to institute  suit for the  enforcement of  any
          such payment on or after the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security
          (or, in the case of redemption,  on or after the redemption date)
          without, in any such case, the consent of the Holder of such Debt
          Security,  (b) reduce the  percentage in principal  amount of the
          Outstanding Debt Security  of any series, or any Tranche thereof,
          the  consent of  the Holders  of which  is required for  any such
          supplemental indenture, or the consent of the Holders of which is
          required for any waiver  of compliance with any provision  of the
          Indenture  or any  default  thereunder and  its consequences,  or
          reduce the  requirements for  quorum or  voting, without,  in any
          such case, the  consent of  the Holder of  each outstanding  Debt
          Security of such series  or Tranche, or (c) modify certain of the
          provisions of the Indenture  relating to supplemental indentures,
          waivers of certain  covenants and waivers  of past defaults  with
          respect  to the Debt Security  of any series  or Tranche, without
          the consent  of  the Holder  of  each Outstanding  Debt  Security
          affected  thereby.   A  supplemental indenture  which changes  or
          eliminates any covenant or other provision of the Indenture which
          has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more
          particular  series  of Debt  Securities or  one or  more Tranches
          thereof, or modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities
          of  such series with respect to such covenant or other provision,
          will be deemed not  to affect the rights  under the Indenture  of
          the Holders of the Debt Securities of any other series or Tranche
          (Indenture, Section 1202).

               The  Indenture  provides  that in  determining  whether  the
          Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt
          Securities  have  given   any  request,  demand,   authorization,
          direction,  notice, consent  or  waiver under  the Indenture,  or
          whether a quorum is present at the meeting of the Holders of Debt
          Securities, Debt  Securities owned  by the  Company or any  other
          obligor  upon the Debt Securities or any affiliate of the Company
          or of such other  obligor (unless the Company, such  affiliate or
          such  obligor  owns all  Debt  Securities  Outstanding under  the
          Indenture, determined without regard  to this provision) shall be
          disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding.

               If  the  Company shall  solicit  from  Holders any  request,
          demand,  authorization,  direction,  notice,  consent,  election,
          waiver  or  other Act,  the Company  may, at  its option,  fix in
          advance a record  date for the determination  of Holders entitled
          to give  such request, demand, authorization,  direction, notice,
          consent, waiver  or other such act, but the Company shall have no
          obligation  to do  so.   If  such a  record date  is fixed,  such
          request,  demand,  authorization,  direction,   notice,  consent,
          waiver  or other Act  may be  given before  or after  such record
          date, but only the Holders of  record at the close of business on
          such record date shall  be deemed to be Holders  for the purposes
          of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the
          Outstanding  Debt  Securities   have  authorized  or   agreed  or
          consented  to  such  request,  demand,  authorization, direction,
          notice,  consent, waiver or other  Act, and for  that purpose the
          Outstanding Debt  Securities shall be  computed as of  the record
          date.   Any  request, demand,  authorization, direction,  notice,
          consent, election, waiver  or other  Act of a  Holder shall  bind
          every future Holder of the  same Debt Security and the Holder  of
          every  Debt Security  issued  upon the  registration of  transfer

                                      13
     <PAGE>

          thereof  or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of
          anything  done, omitted or suffered  to be done  by the Indenture
          Trustee  or  the  Company  in reliance  thereon,  whether  or not
          notation  of  such  action  is  made  upon  such  Debt   Security
          (Indenture, Section 104).

               Resignation of Indenture Trustee.  The Indenture Trustee may
          resign  at any  time  by giving  written  notice thereof  to  the
          Company or may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders  of a
          majority in  principal amount  of all  series of Debt  Securities
          then  Outstanding  delivered to  the  Indenture  Trustee and  the
          Company.   No resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee and
          no appointment of a successor trustee will become effective until
          the  acceptance   of  appointment  by  a   successor  trustee  in
          accordance with the requirements of the Indenture.  So long as no
          Event  of Default or event which,  after notice or lapse of time,
          or  both, would become  an Event of  Default has occurred  and is
          continuing  and  except  with  respect to  an  Indenture  Trustee
          appointed by Act of  the Holders, if the Company has delivered to
          the  Indenture Trustee  a resolution  of its  Board of  Directors
          appointing a  successor trustee  and such successor  has accepted
          such appointment  in accordance with the terms  of the Indenture,
          the Indenture Trustee  will be  deemed to have  resigned and  the
          successor will be  deemed to  have been appointed  as trustee  in
          accordance with the Indenture (Indenture, Section 910).

               Notices.   Notices  to Holders  of  Debt Securities  will be
          given by mail to the addresses of such Holders as they may appear
          in the security register therefor.

               Title.  The Company, the Indenture Trustee, and any agent of
          the Company or  the Indenture  Trustee, may treat  the Person  in
          whose name Debt  Securities are registered as  the absolute owner
          thereof  (whether or not such Debt Securities may be overdue) for
          the  purpose  of  making  payments  and  for  all other  purposes
          irrespective of notice to the contrary.

               Governing Law.   The Indenture and the  Debt Securities will
          be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
          State of New York.

               Regarding  the  Indenture  Trustee.   The  Indenture Trustee
          under  the Indenture  is The Bank  of New  York.   In addition to
          acting as Indenture Trustee, The Bank of New York acts as trustee
          under  the Company's Mortgage and  Deed of Trust  with respect to
          substantially all of the properties of the Company, which secures
          the Company's First  Mortgage Bonds.  The  Company also maintains
          various banking  and trust  relationships  with The  Bank of  New
          York.


                                 EXPERTS AND LEGALITY

               The consolidated financial statements included in the latest
          Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K, incorporated herein by
          reference,  have   been  audited   by  Deloitte  &   Touche  LLP,
          independent auditors, as stated in their report included in  said
          latest  Annual Report of the Company  on Form 10-K, and have been
          incorporated  by reference  herein in  reliance upon  such report
          given  upon authority of that  firm as experts  in accounting and
          auditing.

               With respect to any unaudited condensed consolidated interim
          financial information included in the Company's Quarterly Reports
          on  Form 10-Q  which  are  or  will  be  incorporated  herein  by
          reference, Deloitte  & Touche LLP has  applied limited procedures
          in  accordance with  professional standards  for reviews  of such
          information.  As stated in any  of their reports  included in the
          Company's  Quarterly Reports on Form  10-Q, which are  or will be
          incorporated  herein by reference, Deloitte &  Touche LLP did not
          audit  and did not express  an opinion on  such interim financial
          information.  Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP  is  not  subject  to  the
          liability provisions  of Section 11  of the  1933 Act for  any of
          their reports  on such  unaudited condensed consolidated  interim
          financial information because such  reports were not "reports" or
          a "part" of the  Registration Statement filed under the  1933 Act

                                      14
     <PAGE>

          with  respect  to the  Securities  prepared  or certified  by  an
          accountant within  the meaning of Sections  7 and 11 of  the 1933
          Act.

               The statements made  in the Company's  1996 Form 10-K  under
          Part  I, Item 1--Business-Regulation  and Rates and Environmental
          Matters, incorporated herein by  reference, have been reviewed by
          Worsham, Forsythe  & Wooldridge, L.L.P.,  Dallas, Texas,  General
          Counsel for the Company. All of such statements  are set forth or
          incorporated by reference herein in  reliance upon the opinion of
          that firm given upon their authority as experts. At May 31, 1997,
          members of  the firm of  Worsham, Forsythe  & Wooldridge,  L.L.P.
          owned  approximately 46,200 shares  of the common  stock of Texas
          Utilities.

               The legality of the Offered  Securities will be passed  upon
          for  the Company by Worsham, Forsythe & Wooldridge, L.L.P. and by
          Reid & Priest LLP, New York, New York, of counsel to the Company,
          and for any underwriters or agents by Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam &
          Roberts, New York, New  York. However, all matters  pertaining to
          incorporation, franchises, licenses and  permits, the Lien of the
          Mortgage  on property located in  Texas and all  other matters of
          Texas  law  will  be passed  upon  only  by  Worsham, Forsythe  &
          Wooldridge, L.L.P.


                                 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

               The  Company may sell the  Securities in any  of three ways:
          (i) through underwriters or  dealers; (ii) directly to  a limited
          number of purchasers or  to a single purchaser; or  (iii) through
          agents.  The Prospectus  Supplement with  respect to  the Offered
          Securities  sets forth the terms  of the offering  of the Offered
          Securities,  including the  name  or names  of any  underwriters,
          dealers or agents, the purchase price of  such Offered Securities
          and  the proceeds to the Company from such sale, any underwriting
          discounts    and    other   items    constituting   underwriters'
          compensation, any initial public offering price and any discounts
          or  concessions  allowed or  reallowed  or paid  to  dealers. Any
          initial public  offering price  and any discounts  or concessions
          allowed or reallowed or paid to  dealers may be changed from time
          to time.

               If underwriters are used in the sale, the Offered Securities
          will  be acquired by the  underwriters for their  own account and
          may be  resold from  time to  time in  one or  more transactions,
          including negotiated  transactions,  at a  fixed public  offering
          price or  at varying prices  determined at the time  of the sale.
          The  underwriter or  underwriters  with respect  to a  particular
          underwritten  offering of  Offered  Securities are  named in  the
          Prospectus  Supplement  relating  to  such offering  and,  if  an
          underwriting  syndicate  is  used,  the managing  underwriter  or
          underwriters are set forth  on the cover page of  such Prospectus
          Supplement.   Unless  otherwise  set   forth  in  the  Prospectus
          Supplement, the  obligations of the underwriters  to purchase the
          Offered  Securities   will  be  subject   to  certain  conditions
          precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all
          such Offered Securities if any are purchased.

               Offered Securities may  be sold directly  by the Company  or
          through agents designated by  the Company from time to  time. The
          Prospectus Supplement sets forth the  name of any agent  involved
          in the  offer or  sale of  the Offered  Securities in  respect of
          which  the Prospectus  Supplement  is delivered  as  well as  any
          commissions  payable  by  the   Company  to  such  agent.  Unless
          otherwise indicated in the  Prospectus Supplement, any such agent
          will be  acting on  a best  efforts basis for  the period  of its
          appointment.

               If so  indicated in  the Prospectus Supplement,  the Company
          will authorize agents, underwriters  or dealers to solicit offers
          by  certain specified institutions to purchase Offered Securities
          from the Company at  the public offering price  set forth in  the
          Prospectus  Supplement  pursuant  to  delayed  delivery contracts
          providing for payment  and delivery  on a specified  date in  the
          future. Such  contracts will be  subject to those  conditions set
          forth in the Prospectus Supplement, and the Prospectus Supplement
          will set forth  the commission payable  for solicitation of  such
          contracts.

                                      15
     <PAGE>
               
               Subject  to certain  conditions,  the Company  may agree  to
          indemnify   the  several   underwriters   or  agents   and  their
          controlling  persons  against   certain  liabilities,   including
          liabilities  under the  1933 Act  arising out  of or  based upon,
          among  other  things,  any  untrue statement  or  alleged  untrue
          statement  of  a  material  fact contained  in  the  registration
          statement,  this  Prospectus,  a  Prospectus  Supplement  or  the
          Incorporated  Documents or  the omission  or alleged  omission to
          state  therein a material fact  required to be  stated therein or
          necessary to make  the statements  therein, in the  light of  the
          circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. See the
          applicable Prospectus Supplement.

               NO  DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON  HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO
          GIVE  ANY INFORMATION OR  TO MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN
          THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS  PROSPECTUS AND ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
          IN  CONNECTION WITH  THE OFFER  MADE BY  THIS PROSPECTUS  AND ANY
          PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE,  SUCH INFORMATION OR
          REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
          BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER PERSON, UNDERWRITER, DEALER OR AGENT.
          NEITHER  THE  DELIVERY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS  OR  ANY  PROSPECTUS
          SUPPLEMENT  NOR   ANY  SALE   MADE  HEREUNDER  SHALL   UNDER  ANY
          CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE
          IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE  COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF  OR THEREOF.
          THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE
          AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION  BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION  IN WHICH
          SUCH  OFFER OR  SOLICITATION IS  NOT AUTHORIZED  OR IN  WHICH THE
          PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER  OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED  TO DO
          SO  OR TO ANYONE  TO WHOM  IT IS UNLAWFUL  TO MAKE  SUCH OFFER OR
          SOLICITATION.

                                      16




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