<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  340,927,477
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 61,622,288
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      87,925,537
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    30,830,271
<OTHER-ASSETS>                              36,813,554
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             558,119,127
<COMMON>                                    31,220,427
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                   56,594,914
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         68,962,093
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             156,777,434
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       32,500,000
<PREFERRED>                                  6,250,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       213,661,444
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>              17,500,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                1,595,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             129,835,249
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              558,119,127
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  203,605,344
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         8,642,635
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 168,703,195
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 177,345,830
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     26,259,514
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           3,589,453
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              29,848,967
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    11,885,647
<NET-INCOME>                                17,963,320
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  2,403,716
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               15,559,604
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    11,774,565
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   11,586,069
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      26,691,614
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0