<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  334,859,000
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 66,268,000
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      84,009,000
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    23,605,000
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             508,741,000
<COMMON>                                    21,705,000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                   39,995,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                        143,703,000
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             205,403,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       163,360,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              23,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                1,331,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             138,624,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              508,741,000
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  313,662,000
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        14,326,000
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 254,752,000
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 269,078,000
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     44,584,000
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           1,898,000
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              42,686,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    14,123,000
<NET-INCOME>                                32,359,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               32,359,000
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    20,540,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   13,450,000
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      56,049,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.49