<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