<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 444869000 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 25976000 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 4426000 <OTHER-ASSETS> 37691000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 512962000 <COMMON> 44941000 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 108839000 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 153780000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 3475000 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 142153000 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 4000000 <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> 209554000 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 512962000 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 37558000 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 1614000 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 30232000 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 31846000 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 5712000 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 99000 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 5811000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2890000 <NET-INCOME> 2921000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 38000 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 2883000 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 3328000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 2890000 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 11747000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .46 <EPS-DILUTED> 0