<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 330,755,000 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 67,992,000 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 121,484,000 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 25,736,000 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 545,967,000 <COMMON> 21,717,000 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 40,238,000 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 153,105,000 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 211,764,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 162,030,000 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 1,502,000 <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> 169,341,000 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 545,967,000 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 485,329,000 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 12,196,000 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 438,936,000 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 451,132,000 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 34,197,000 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 2,444,000 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 36,641,000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,984,000 <NET-INCOME> 25,657,000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 25,657,000 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 16,255,000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 9,986,000 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 42,881,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.19 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.18