<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 292,313 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 8,712 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 67,568 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 25,648 <OTHER-ASSETS> 6,863 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 401,004 <COMMON> 29,669 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 63,080 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 36,173 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 128,922 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 120,000 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 66,125 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 102 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 963 <LEASES-CURRENT> 620 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 84,272 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 401,004 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 167,978 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 7,816 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 139,304 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 147,120 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 20,858 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1,290 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 21,022 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,734 <NET-INCOME> 12,288 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 12,288 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 12,039 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 8,130 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 29,081 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.40 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.40