<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      257,125
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,265
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          39,208
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        26,425
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  11,697
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 343,720
<COMMON>                                        28,643
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       55,669
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             38,464
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 122,776
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           100,185 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              19,177
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   15,158
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,471
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   921
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  84,032
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  343,720
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      110,536
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,002
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      76,602
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      94,136
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         16,400
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 229
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  16,629
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,837
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,792
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   12,792
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,647
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,911
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          20,393
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.50