<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<PERIOD-TYPE>				   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      278,794
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     10,181
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          60,000
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        24,584
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  12,202
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 385,761
<COMMON>                                        29,063
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       58,262
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             47,219
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 134,544
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            90,059 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              47,588
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   20,167
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,528
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,086
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  90,789
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  385,761
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       77,822
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,675
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      53,072
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      61,747
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         16,075
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 272
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  16,347
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,135
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,212
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,212
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,917
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        2,043
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          17,931
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.63