<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