<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