<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      250,983
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,736
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          67,558
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        32,476
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   5,659
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 364,412
<COMMON>                                        28,366
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       54,221
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             31,319
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 113,906
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            95,266
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              63,439
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,152
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        930
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   881
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  84,838
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  364,412
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      170,929
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,088
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     139,647
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     148,735
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         22,194
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,993
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  25,187
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,709
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,478
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   16,478
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,919
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        7,107
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          38,856
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.95
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.95