<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2000, and the Consolidated
Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2000, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      445,878
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    131,624
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         130,868
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         7,731
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 716,101
<COMMON>                                       119,250
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        (226)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            130,527
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 249,551
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           18,000
<PREFERRED>                                     15,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           190,691
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              19,340
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    8,574
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 214,445
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  716,101
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      134,755
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             6,083
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     114,984
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     121,067
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         13,688
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 684
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  14,372
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,955
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,417
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        470
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    9,947
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,082
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,902
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           1,516
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .42