<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 558894 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 15975 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 95613 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 85871 <OTHER-ASSETS> 50 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 756403 <COMMON> 72284 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 47206 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 119220 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 238710 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 25978 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 222290 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 42000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 227425 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 756403 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 318588 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 12865 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 265707 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 278572 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 40016 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1396 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 41856 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16110 <NET-INCOME> 25746 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1491 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 24255 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 9888 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 13908 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 36528 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0