<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      497,712
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        453
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          67,633
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        73,402
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 639,200
<COMMON>                                        33,848
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      105,959
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             66,251
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 206,058
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           24,147
<PREFERRED>                                     10,819
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           171,731
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  28,700
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   17,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                         95
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    14
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 180,636
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  639,200
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      326,084
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,582
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     267,182
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     283,764
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         42,320
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,225
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  44,545
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,222
<NET-INCOME>                                    28,323
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,463
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   25,860
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        19,950
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       14,297
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          62,703
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $2.69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $2.69