<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  531,042,000
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                129,994,000
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                     161,128,000
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                   268,435,000
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,090,599,000
<COMMON>                                    31,220,000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                   56,595,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         76,018,000
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             163,833,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                  3,750,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       417,148,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                5,580,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             500,288,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            1,090,599,000
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  634,941,000
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         7,335,000
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 594,555,000
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 601,890,000
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     33,051,000
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           7,977,000
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              41,028,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    23,625,000
<NET-INCOME>                                17,403,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  2,145,000
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               15,258,000
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    12,311,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    9,197,000
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      31,821,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0