<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