<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 555121 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 2706 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 76809 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 84982 <OTHER-ASSETS> 13256 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 732874 <COMMON> 72284 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 47206 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 122833 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 242323 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 26699 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 222358 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 7000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 234494 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 732874 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 196866 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 8402 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 163832 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 172234 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 24632 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1071 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 25703 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9301 <NET-INCOME> 16402 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 994 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 15408 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 16972 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 7673 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 35208 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0