<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                        OPUR1
<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-31-1997 
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                                    SEP-30-1997 
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                  1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                       PER-BOOK 
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                        72,488,710 
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                       5,864,912 
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           15,231,485 
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                            348,028 
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   24,821,960 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  118,755,095 
<COMMON>                                            975,599 
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        10,190,943 
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              42,361,088 
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   53,527,630 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0 
<PREFERRED>                                       1,445,600 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             36,604,565 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                        0 
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                            0 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                     1,224,748 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                 0 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                               0 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                          0 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                   25,952,552 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                   118,755,095 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                        36,349,298 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              7,434,105 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       29,687,134 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       37,121,239 
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                           6,662,164 
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               12,303,283 
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   11,564,820 
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          1,631,740 
<NET-INCOME>                                      9,884,291 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          48,789 
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                     9,884,291 
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          1,734,779 
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                 0 
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                            9,436,910 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          1.64 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          1.64 
                                                            
                                                            

</TABLE>