<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
EXHIBIT 27
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN ITS FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
JUNE 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 2,117,410
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 70,078
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 187,375
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 0
<OTHER-ASSETS> 448,636
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,823,499
<COMMON> 430,057
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 170,678
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 43,185
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 643,463
0
10,159
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 1,210,712
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 34,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 529
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 924,636
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,823,499
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,071,007
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 62,161
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 117,203
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 820,116
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 250,891
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> (399)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 50,175
<NET-INCOME> 138,156
198
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 137,958
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 121,504
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 179,962
<EPS-BASIC> 0
<EPS-DILUTED> 0
</TABLE>
