<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      245,829
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,796
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          52,605
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        19,152
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  16,625
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 342,007
<COMMON>                                        28,212
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       53,363
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             27,043
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 108,619
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            85,305
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              62,899
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,149
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        967
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   828
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  18,318
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  342,007
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      117,060 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,435
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      99,666
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     104,101
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         12,959
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,887
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  15,846
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         6,402
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,444
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    9,444
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,160
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,280
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          27,642
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.12