<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  340,015,835
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 54,332,436
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                     107,398,312
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    30,133,356
<OTHER-ASSETS>                              50,747,180
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             582,627,119
<COMMON>                                    31,220,427
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                   56,594,913
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         75,031,795
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             162,847,135
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       32,500,000
<PREFERRED>                                  6,260,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       211,870,977
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  570,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             168,579,007
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              582,627,119
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   97,219,393
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         7,189,758
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  73,406,134
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  80,595,892
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     16,623,501
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             637,340
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              17,260,841
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     3,951,994
<NET-INCOME>                                13,308,847
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    800,453
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               12,508,394
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     3,924,854
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    3,923,945
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      22,397,474
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0