<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AT JUNE 30, 1999 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME AND THE STATEMENT OF CASH
FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  587,945,105
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      44,427,439
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    44,205,086
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             676,577,630
<COMMON>                                    17,267,629
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  159,889,317
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         49,059,902
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             226,216,848
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 32,452,217
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       246,114,504
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              34,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             137,794,061
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              676,577,630
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  108,051,297
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         4,785,840
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  88,239,867
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  93,025,707
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     15,025,590
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              37,098
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              15,062,688
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     9,522,449
<NET-INCOME>                                 5,540,239
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  1,196,513
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                4,343,726
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    10,991,297
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    9,237,228
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      20,653,652
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.25