<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 541191 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 2651 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 67014 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 170678 <OTHER-ASSETS> 13665 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 795199 <COMMON> 72284 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 47205 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 100656 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 220145 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27722 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 162513 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 2240 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 60000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 322579 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 795199 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 108928 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 6321 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 88245 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 94566 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 14362 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 294 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 14656 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4566 <NET-INCOME> 10090 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 497 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 9593 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 7806 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 3751 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 16325 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0