<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,048,528 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 127,704 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 52,724 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 69,111 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,298,067 <COMMON> 85,474 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 242,000 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 130,882 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 458,356 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 557,642 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 81,715 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 16,564 <LEASES-CURRENT> 401 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 183,389 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,298,067 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 118,530 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 13,552 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 56,318 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 69,870 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 48,660 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (11,682) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 36,978 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,079 <NET-INCOME> 12,899 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 12,899 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 59,275 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 59,693 <EPS-PRIMARY> 12,899 <EPS-DILUTED> 12,899