<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 553623 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 2706 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 62430 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 131981 <OTHER-ASSETS> 13491 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 750740 <COMMON> 72284 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 47206 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 104211 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 223701 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27180 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 222424 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 1765 <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> 275670 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 750740 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 110588 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 4112 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 94189 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 98301 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 12287 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1191 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 13478 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4543 <NET-INCOME> 8935 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 497 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 8438 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 24806 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 3751 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 28027 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0