<ARTICLE> UT


                                       EXHIBIT 27.01 
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information
extracted from the Consolidated Statements of Income,
Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of
Cash Flows and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      667,385
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     10,857
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          67,469
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        45,427
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 791,138
<COMMON>                                        86,200
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       10,461
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            238,005
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 334,666
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           231,732
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              15,900
<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>                 208,840
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  791,138
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      242,046
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            11,404
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     204,030
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     215,434
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         26,612
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (111)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  26,501
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,248
<NET-INCOME>                                    17,253
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   17,253
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        13,999
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        8,158
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          58,827
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   $20.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   $20.02