<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<PERIOD-TYPE>				 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      274,532
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,942
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          67,967
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        30,880
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   5,670
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 388,991
<COMMON>                                        28,931
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       57,277
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             35,924
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 122,132
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           100,102 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              64,295
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,164
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,617
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,013
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  89,668
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  388,991
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      187,140
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,972
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     154,312
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     164,284
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         22,856
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,218
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  24,074
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,034
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,040
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   16,040
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        11,435
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        8,114
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          34,346
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.87