<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AT JUNE 30, 1997 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME AND THE STATEMENT OF CASH
FLOWS FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  541,267,487
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      38,245,078
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    42,559,929
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             622,072,494
<COMMON>                                    16,638,405
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  148,060,611
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         45,339,772
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             210,038,788
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 32,901,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       196,439,609
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              34,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>               23,000,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             125,692,297
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              622,072,494
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   93,284,775
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         2,850,643
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  76,668,516
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  79,519,159
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     13,765,616
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           (117,508)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              13,648,108
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     7,874,391
<NET-INCOME>                                 5,773,717
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  1,208,170
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                4,565,547
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    10,566,329
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    8,295,810
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      21,037,474
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.28