<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 329,261,000 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 70,208,000 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 132,681,000 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 29,706,000 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 561,856,000 <COMMON> 21,726,000 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 40,397,000 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 151,160,000 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 207,036,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 161,504,000 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 4,570,000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 1,330,000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 187,416,000 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 561,856,000 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 168,201,000 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 4,149,000 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 152,221,000 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 156,370,000 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 11,831,000 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 884,000 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 12,715,000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,680,000 <NET-INCOME> 9,035,000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 9,035,000 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 5,649,000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 3,294,000 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 26,589,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.42 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.42