<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      492,798
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        477
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          66,655
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        75,747
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 635,677
<COMMON>                                        34,120
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      107,943
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             68,385
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 210,448
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           24,205
<PREFERRED>                                     10,819
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           171,769
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  38,700
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                         91
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    14
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 179,631
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  635,677
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      160,083
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,338
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     132,446
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     139,784
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         20,299
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 964
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  21,263
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,813
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,450
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,234
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   12,216
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,084
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       14,117
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          26,545
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $1.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $1.25