<ARTICLE>                                          UT

                                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                       9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                  SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                     PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                     332,035,000
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                    96,898,000
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        174,424,000
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                 30,560,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                633,917,000
<COMMON>                                                       21,736,000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                      40,588,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                           157,343,000
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                213,255,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                          160,700,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                             25,291,000
<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>                                233,341,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                 633,917,000
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                     574,176,000
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                           11,714,000
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    527,752,000
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    539,466,000
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                        34,710,000
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                              4,742,000
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                 39,452,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       12,933,000
<NET-INCOME>                                                   26,519,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                             0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                  26,519,000
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       16,950,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                       9,888,000
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                         42,020,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                                        1.24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        1.23