<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 240,394 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 7,383 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 42,294 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 19,347 <OTHER-ASSETS> 16,926 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 326,344 <COMMON> 28,092 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 52,719 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 33,368 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 114,179 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 80,343 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 46,433 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 5,147 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 1,097 <LEASES-CURRENT> 789 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 78,356 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 326,344 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 101,815 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 7,225 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 79,066 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 86,291 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 15,524 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1,741 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 17,265 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,242 <NET-INCOME> 13,023 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 13,023 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 5,415 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 3,590 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 24,687 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.55 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.55