<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      492,843
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        448
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          70,440
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        75,386
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 639,117
<COMMON>                                        34,129
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      107,994
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             73,645
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 215,768
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           24,236
<PREFERRED>                                     10,819
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           171,786
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  34,300
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                         88
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    14
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 182,106
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  639,117
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      248,941
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,614
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     199,885
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     214,499
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         34,442
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,598
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  36,040
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        11,641
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,399
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,851
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   22,548
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,154
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       13,853
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          44,806
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $2.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $2.32