<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 518,031 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 5,254 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 96,788 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 106,159 <OTHER-ASSETS> 1,344 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 727,576 <COMMON> 13,719 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 116,375 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 54,523 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 184,617 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 35,000 <PREFERRED> 2,044 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 185,704 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 82,300 <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> 229,035 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 727,576 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 223,429 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 13,171 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 180,848 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 194,019 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 29,410 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 0 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 29,410 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,965 <NET-INCOME> 17,778 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1,544 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 17,778 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 7,762 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 8,024 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 57,466 <EPS-BASIC> 1.65 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.65