<ARTICLE>   UT

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                 PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     289,507
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     8,973
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         49,363
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       15,161
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 20,482
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                383,486
<COMMON>                                       29,455
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      61,162
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            34,178
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                124,795
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                          110,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             63,160
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                           0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                     144
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     1,041
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                  639
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 83,707
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                 383,486
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                     115,854
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            4,374
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     98,396
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    102,770
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        13,084
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                659
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 13,743
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        6,517
<NET-INCOME>                                    7,226
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   7,226
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        8,973
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       6,043
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         22,517
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.03