<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                        UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                           1,000
       
<S>                                                       <C>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                            JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                              SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             9-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                            253,928
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                16,363
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                              11,515
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                         7,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       288,806
<COMMON>                                                               8,780
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                             18,683
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                   97,025
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                       124,488
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                                0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                  44,657
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                    24,661
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                              0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                        95,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                        288,806
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                            206,185
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                   6,648
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           185,544
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           192,192
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                               13,993
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                      (964)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                        13,029
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                               3,512
<NET-INCOME>                                                           9,517
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                          9,517
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               4,975
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                              2,643
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                27,364
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.00
        

</TABLE>