<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 1997, and the Consolidated
Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 1997, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      453,025
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    120,259
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          84,696
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        12,633
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 670,613
<COMMON>                                        57,263
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       32,376
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            111,980
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 201,619
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           18,000
<PREFERRED>                                     20,831
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           164,662
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                 800
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  16,400
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   48,003
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 200,298
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  670,613
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       91,770
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             5,631
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      72,490
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      78,121
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         13,649
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,122
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  14,771
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,537
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,234
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        589
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    9,645
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,309
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,182
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          15,910
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.85