<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