<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-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                              JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                               9-MOS
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                               246,651
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                   0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                   17,203
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                  8,056
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                            6,439
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          278,349
<COMMON>                                                                  8,780
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                18,839
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                      94,621
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                          122,240
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                     44,604
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                            0
<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>                                          111,505
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                           278,349
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                               198,764
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                      7,824
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                              174,677
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                              182,501
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                  16,263
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       (1,027)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                           15,236
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  3,478
<NET-INCOME>                                                             11,758
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                   0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                            11,758
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                 3,135
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                   41,397
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              0.00