<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 285,034 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 9,163 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 41,822 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 23,440 <OTHER-ASSETS> 12,898 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 372,358 <COMMON> 29,191 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 59,177 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 42,433 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 130,801 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 110,015 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 45,084 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 171 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 276 <LEASES-CURRENT> 1,464 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 84,547 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 372,358 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 103,507 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 7,624 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 79,552 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 87,176 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 16,331 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 431 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 16,762 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,321 <NET-INCOME> 12,441 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 12,441 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 5,932 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 4,047 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 42,310 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.43 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.43