<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