<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AT MARCH 31, 1995 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME AND THE STATEMENT OF
CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  454,948,728
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      33,107,389
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    41,611,710
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             529,667,827
<COMMON>                                    14,024,339
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  107,527,137
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         53,279,765
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             174,831,241
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 32,901,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       184,906,916
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              18,500,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             118,527,870
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              529,667,827
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   42,395,631
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         2,016,755
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  32,931,571
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  34,948,326
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      7,447,305
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             483,050
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               7,930,355
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     3,364,366
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,565,989
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    604,085
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                3,961,904
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     4,465,481
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    3,592,716
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      14,241,803
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.28