<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                       556928
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                       2706
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           80658
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         83639
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   13491
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  737422
<COMMON>                                         72284
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        47206
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             122380
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  241870
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            26891
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            222380
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  246281
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                   737422
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       298537
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             12100
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      250265
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      262365
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          36172
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                2999
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   39171
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         13859
<NET-INCOME>                                     25312
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       1491
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    23821
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         25646
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        11482
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           61103
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0