<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  467,819,759
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      42,117,115
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    43,185,465
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             553,122,339
<COMMON>                                    15,140,640
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  124,260,525
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         54,705,742
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             194,106,907
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 32,901,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       194,715,848
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               5,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             131,397,784
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              553,122,339
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  147,650,074
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         8,752,745
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 112,302,483
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 121,055,228
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     26,594,846
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             950,549
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              27,545,395
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    10,724,485
<NET-INCOME>                                16,820,910
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  1,812,255
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               15,008,655
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    14,086,255
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   11,162,867
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      35,848,436
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.03