<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 86668 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 45 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 17805 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 28612 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 133130 <COMMON> 9203 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 17908 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 9936 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 37047 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 6130 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 35000 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 5170 <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> 48283 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 133130 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 68681 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 1477 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 62618 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 64095 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 4586 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 158 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 4744 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2036 <NET-INCOME> 2708 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 144 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 2564 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1749 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 1621 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> (566) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0