<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 462583000 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 23190000 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 4230000 <OTHER-ASSETS> 38479000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 528482000 <COMMON> 44941000 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 117275000 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 162216000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 3475000 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 139205000 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 12500000 <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> 211086000 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 528482000 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 35225000 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 714000 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 30010000 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 30724000 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 4501000 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (75000) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 4426000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2836000 <NET-INCOME> 1590000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 38000 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 1552000 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 3376000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 2836000 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 10222000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .12 <EPS-DILUTED> 0