<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from the consolidated Balance Sheet, Statement of Income and
Statement of Cash Flows included in the Company's Form 10-Q for
the first quarter of 1998 Form 10-Q, and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     78105923
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                   24971609
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                        19287991
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                      11205105
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               133570628
<COMMON>                                       2223886
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                     20768549
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                           31019498
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                54332268
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                          38152000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   520000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                40566360
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                133570628
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                     39574776
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           2386660
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    32483861
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    34870521
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        4704255
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               86223
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 4790478
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        853819
<NET-INCOME>                                   3936659
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  3936659
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       1092168
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      2507338
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        13196414
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .83