<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AT DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME AND THE STATEMENT OF CASH
FLOWS FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  616,047,644
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      68,462,517
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    46,709,558
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             731,219,719
<COMMON>                                    17,369,855
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  163,909,731
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         52,908,432
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             234,188,018
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       345,850,169
<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>             151,181,532
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              731,219,719
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  242,161,540
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        15,862,429
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 183,723,388
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 199,585,817
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     42,575,723
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (101,918)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              42,473,805
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    20,303,666
<NET-INCOME>                                22,170,139
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  1,403,025
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               19,462,610
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    22,063,772
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   19,402,734
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      56,915,870
<EPS-BASIC>                                     1.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.13