<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      673,692
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      5,347
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         107,561
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        49,988
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 836,588
<COMMON>                                        78,258
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            214,557
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 292,815
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     19,514
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           251,639
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       33,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   31,500
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 208,120
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  836,588
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      280,997
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,320
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     210,599
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     230,919
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         50,078
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,782
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  51,860
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,238
<NET-INCOME>                                    36,622
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        823
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   35,799
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,442
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       13,920
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          54,770
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.27