<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                          UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM STATEMENTS
OF INCOME, BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                                       
<MULTIPLIER>                                                1
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars  
                                                             
<S>                                     <C>                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           9-MOS   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                    JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                      SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                             1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                       PER-BOOK  
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                          64,741,325
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        11,553,938
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                             11,923,896
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                              250,783
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                      1,047,953
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     89,517,895
<COMMON>                                              917,406
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                           1,850,893
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                35,075,740
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                     36,647,265
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                         1,445,600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                               25,988,774
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                  7,830,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                              0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                         363,316
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                   0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                 0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                     17,242,940
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                      89,517,895
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                          33,377,887
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                2,278,605
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         26,609,968
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         28,888,573
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                             4,489,314
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                    798,293
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                      5,287,607
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            1,946,688
<NET-INCOME>                                        3,292,130
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                            48,789
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                       3,292,130
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                            1,660,359
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                   0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                              5,980,200
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0.58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0.58
        





</TABLE>