<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  524,621,000
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                123,095,000
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                     129,638,000
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                   270,539,000
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,047,893,000
<COMMON>                                    31,220,000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                   56,595,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         75,877,000
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             163,693,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                  3,750,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       397,975,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>               20,622,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             461,853,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            1,047,893,000
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  449,857,000
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         5,871,000
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 417,428,000
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 423,299,000
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     26,558,000
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           4,154,000
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              30,712,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    15,870,000
<NET-INCOME>                                13,681,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  1,437,000
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               12,244,000
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     8,208,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    6,329,000
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      31,172,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0