<ARTICLE> UT
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  403,222,016
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      32,753,320
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     4,901,579
<OTHER-ASSETS>                              23,545,570
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             464,422,485
<COMMON>                                    42,922,118
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                        101,691,966
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             144,614,084
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                  3,475,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       129,607,500
<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>             186,725,901
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              464,422,485
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  121,028,516
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         7,766,000
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  93,477,000
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 101,243,000
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     19,785,516
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             252,712
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              20,038,228
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     8,715,911
<NET-INCOME>                                11,322,317
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    114,676
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               11,207,641
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     8,456,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    7,958,052
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      23,772,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.97
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.97