<ARTICLE> UT

                                                               EXHIBIT 27.01

<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Statements of Income, Balance Sheets and Statements of Cash Flows 
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      663,605
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,286
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          70,290
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        41,904
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 785,085
<COMMON>                                        86,200
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       10,461
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            227,600
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 324,261    
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           211,571
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              49,800
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 199,453    
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  785,085
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      340,774
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,903    
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     286,248
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     302,151
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         38,623
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 590    
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  39,213
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,063
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,150
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   25,150
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        19,188
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       11,910
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          57,953
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   $29.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   $29.18