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

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  601,530,943
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      46,581,256
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    45,695,408
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             693,807,607
<COMMON>                                    17,317,808
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  162,520,586
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         54,826,211
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             234,664,605
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       246,125,303
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              59,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             154,017,699
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              693,807,607
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  189,511,064
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        13,638,570
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 142,852,356
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 156,490,926
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     33,020,138
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              23,604
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              33,043,742
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    14,499,897
<NET-INCOME>                                18,543,845
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  2,707,529
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               15,836,316
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    16,519,698
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   13,855,842
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      49,518,982
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0.92
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.92