<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                     DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                     PER-BOOK
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<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>         2,016
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>            120,086
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>          119,825
<OTHER-ASSETS>                      3,925
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    748,095
<COMMON>                           13,474
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<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                44,507
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>    169,234
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>              35,000
<PREFERRED>                         2,134
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>              194,710
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                 97,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>               0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>       8,876
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>               0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>             0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                        0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>    241,141
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>     748,095
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>         450,246
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>               11,860
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>        402,301
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>        414,161
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>            36,085
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                      0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>     36,085
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>           19,181
<NET-INCOME>                       10,986
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>         3,088
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>      10,986
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>           15,517
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>          15,246
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>              7,360
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        1.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                        1.02