<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                      SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>          524,219
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>          5,691
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>              84,295
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>           114,806
<OTHER-ASSETS>                       1,133
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     730,144
<COMMON>                            13,937
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>          120,887
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                 46,381
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>     181,205
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               35,000
<PREFERRED>                          2,044
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>               185,704
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                  95,375
<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>     221,940
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>      730,144
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>          282,594
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                10,627
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         240,759
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         251,386
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>             31,208
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                       0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>      31,208
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>            15,148
<NET-INCOME>                        13,587
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>          2,313
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>       13,587
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>            11,713
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>           11,826
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>              47,662
<EPS-BASIC>                         1.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                         1.25