<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 1996, and the Consolidated
Statement of Income for the six months ended June 30, 1996, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      447,250
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    102,084
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          84,609
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        11,514
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 645,457
<COMMON>                                        55,901
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       30,335
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            102,777
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 189,013
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           18,000
<PREFERRED>                                     20,831
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           181,519
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   24,798
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 211,296
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  645,457
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      177,978
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,850
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     146,854
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     155,704
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         22,274
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,421
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  23,695
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,683
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,012
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,179
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,833
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,062
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        7,619
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          26,182
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.33