<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