<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>                                              MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             3-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                            250,015
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                14,036
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                              11,302
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                         6,630
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       281,983
<COMMON>                                                               8,780
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                             18,683
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                   99,051
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                       126,514
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                                0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                  44,630
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                    18,926
<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>                                        91,913
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                        281,983
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                             82,664
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                   4,742
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            69,844
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            74,586
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                8,078
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                      (359)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                         7,719
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                               1,152
<NET-INCOME>                                                           6,567
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                          6,567
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                881
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                16,579
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.00