<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 87742 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 47 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 16746 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 15948 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 120482 <COMMON> 9203 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 17908 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 10047 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 37158 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 6130 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 36500 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 1500 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 39194 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 120482 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 33436 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 597 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 30566 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 31163 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 2273 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (24) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 2249 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 975 <NET-INCOME> 1274 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 72 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 1202 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1088 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 839 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 3460 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0