<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      252,741
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      8,366
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          64,791
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,256
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  11,499
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 364,653
<COMMON>                                        28,508
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       54,985
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             43,838
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 127,331
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            85,226
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              47,512
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   15,155
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,538
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   949
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  86,942
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  364,653
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       83,324
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,432
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      56,945
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      66,377
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         16,947
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 251
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  17,198
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         1,905
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,293
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   15,293
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,774
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        1,913
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          17,833
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.79
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.79