<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      673,802
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     10,543
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          69,760
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        46,395
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 800,500
<COMMON>                                        86,200
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       10,461
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            239,248
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 335,909
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           231,754
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              29,200
<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>                 203,637
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  800,500
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      346,386
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,438
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     292,111
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     308,549
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         37,837
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 772
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  38,609
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        13,114
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,495
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   25,495
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,998
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,238
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          65,782
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   $29.58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   $29.58