<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                     DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                     PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>         454,239
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>         2,299
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>            100,766
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>          110,450
<OTHER-ASSETS>                      2,847
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    670,601
<COMMON>                           13,464
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>         110,997
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                49,038
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>    173,499
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>              35,000
<PREFERRED>                         2,224
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>              176,360
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                 45,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>               0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>       8,994
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>               0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>             0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                        0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>    228,624
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>     670,601
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>         348,567
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>               10,716
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>        299,209
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>        309,925
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>            38,642
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                      0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>     38,642
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>           18,111
<NET-INCOME>                       15,796
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>         2,102
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>      15,796
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>           15,501
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>          15,197
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>             39,953
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        1.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                        1.47