<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                UT
<MULTIPLIER>                1,000


       

<S>                                                                       <C>   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                         DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                292,313
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                8,712
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    67,568
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                  25,648
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                             6,863
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                           401,004
<COMMON>                                                                  29,669
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                 63,080
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                       36,173
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                           128,922
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                     120,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                        66,125
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                102
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                  963
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                             620
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                            84,272
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                            401,004
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                167,978
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                       7,816
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                               139,304
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                               147,120
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                   20,858
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                         1,290
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                            21,022
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   8,734
<NET-INCOME>                                                              12,288
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                    0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                             12,288
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                  12,039
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                  8,130
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                    29,081
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               1.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               1.40



        


</TABLE>