<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 468427000 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 27527000 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 4183000 <OTHER-ASSETS> 38613000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 538750000 <COMMON> 44941000 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 117447000 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 162388000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 3475000 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 139205000 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 19500000 <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> 214182000 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 538750000 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 79680000 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 2786000 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 65834000 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 68620000 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 11060000 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (237000) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 10823000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5672000 <NET-INCOME> 5151000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 76000 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 5075000 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 6752000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 5672000 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 15822000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .40 <EPS-DILUTED> 0