<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
BALANCE SHEET AT DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME AND THE
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  515,209,914
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      39,481,639
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    42,288,187
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             596,979,740
<COMMON>                                    16,436,559
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  145,313,610
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         51,340,554
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             213,090,723
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 32,901,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       219,533,678
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               7,500,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             123,953,539
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              596,979,740
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  205,983,959
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        11,800,000
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 157,531,592
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 169,331,592
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     36,652,367
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             352,688
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              37,005,055
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    14,955,848
<NET-INCOME>                                22,049,207
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  2,416,340
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               19,632,867
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    20,522,897
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   14,881,564
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      45,071,974
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.23