<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
(Amounts in 1,000's, except earnings per share)
Income tax expense includes $406,000 related to other income.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      805,327
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     16,275
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         114,617
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       195,765
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,131,984
<COMMON>                                       188,700
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        (422)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             90,170
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 278,448
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           15,000
<PREFERRED>                                     50,905
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           315,437
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   63,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 8,044
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 401,150
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,131,984
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       80,324
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,798
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      51,049
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      60,441
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         19,883
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 352
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  20,235
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,203
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,032
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,157
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,875
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,346
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,774
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          17,051
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.89
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.89