<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> 548921 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 2706 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 65815 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 116356 <OTHER-ASSETS> 13677 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 747475 <COMMON> 72284 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 47205 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 101099 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 220588 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27324 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 202447 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 9511 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 20000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 267605 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 747475 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 214304 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 6831 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 185662 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 192493 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 21811 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1665 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 23476 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9205 <NET-INCOME> 14271 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 994 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 13277 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 32613 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 7503 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 30956 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0