<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>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
                                               
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1997  
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-1998  
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-31-1998  
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1  
<BOOK-VALUE>                                       PER-BOOK   
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                            62,213   
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          16,850   
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                               33,349   
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                  0   
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       24,878   
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      137,290   
<COMMON>                                              1,186   
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            36,159   
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                  40,122   
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       77,467   
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0   
<PREFERRED>                                           1,446   
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 35,656   
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                      425   
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 0   
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                            0   
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                         1,063   
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                 0   
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                               0   
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                          0   
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       21,233   
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                       137,290   
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            12,712   
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                    (15)  
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           11,166   
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           11,151   
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                               1,546   
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                   (1,686)  
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                         (140)  
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                731   
<NET-INCOME>                                           (872)  
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                              16   
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                          (872)  
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                716   
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                 0   
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                2,780   
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         (0.12)  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         (0.12)  
                                               


</TABLE>