<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>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                   JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                     PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                274,919
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                    0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    19,053
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  11,063
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                             3,844
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           308,879
<COMMON>                                                   8,780
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                 18,683
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                       97,100
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                           124,563
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                      34,534
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                        39,744
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                             20,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                            90,038
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            308,879
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                 63,445
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                       1,696
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                57,825
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                59,521
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                    3,924
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                          (175)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                             3,749
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   1,244
<NET-INCOME>                                               2,505
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                              2,505
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                  1,011
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                     6,451
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               0.00
                                                  

</TABLE>