<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FROM ACE'S 3RD QUARTER
2000-10-2.

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      889,582
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    115,606
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         296,414
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,099,516
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  73,920
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,475,038
<COMMON>                                        54,963
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      410,194
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            121,730
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 586,887
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          118,950
<PREFERRED>                                      6,231
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           914,827
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   40,075
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     15,200
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                15,480
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 777,388
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,475,038
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      728,101
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            24,121
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     602,887
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     627,008
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        101,093
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,438
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 106,531
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        62,690
<NET-INCOME>                                    43,841
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,599
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   42,242
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        50,482
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         185,055
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0