<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME AND THE STATEMENT OF
CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  688,384,568
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      61,404,860
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    51,409,875
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             801,199,303
<COMMON>                                    17,587,875
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  168,015,787
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         56,417,883
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             242,021,545
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       345,653,867
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              32,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             181,523,892
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              801,199,303
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  250,331,685
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        13,256,494
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 190,471,065
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 203,727,559
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     46,604,126
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           1,727,499
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              48,331,625
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    24,418,306
<NET-INCOME>                                23,913,318
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               23,913,318
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    22,321,646
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   25,316,150
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      53,002,073
<EPS-BASIC>                                     1.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.37