<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  343,550,551
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 54,118,680
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      93,717,556
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    29,909,387
<OTHER-ASSETS>                              50,979,147
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             572,275,321
<COMMON>                                    31,220,427
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                   56,594,914
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         73,236,164
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             161,051,505
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       32,500,000
<PREFERRED>                                  6,250,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       212,459,681
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               3,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  570,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             156,444,135
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              572,275,321
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  153,900,264
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         8,435,575
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 123,650,518
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 132,086,093
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     21,814,171
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           2,656,718
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              24,470,889
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     7,808,769
<NET-INCOME>                                16,662,120
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  1,602,151
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               15,059,969
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     7,849,707
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    7,674,283
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      29,196,178
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0