<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE

THIS SECTION OF THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
       
                                        
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,047,379
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          41,679
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        61,308
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,150,366
<COMMON>                                        85,474
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      192,250
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            155,358
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 433,082
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           467,420
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  42,429
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     16,461
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   410
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 190,564
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,150,366
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      179,876
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,560
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      86,000
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     106,560
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         73,316
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (13,152)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  60,164
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        36,017
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,147
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   24,147
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        52,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0               
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         100,244
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   24,147
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   24,147