<ARTICLE>                                           UT
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                        1,213,320
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         38,507
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                             173,657
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                           360,924
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                           0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,786,408
<COMMON>                                           282,034
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                              (74)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                163,587
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                     445,547
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                          4,299
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                               643,173
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                       0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                           82,172
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                           0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        6,806
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                         16,415
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                       354
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                     587,642
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                    1,786,408
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                          168,667
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                15,525
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         129,935
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         145,460
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                             23,207
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                     435
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                      23,642
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            12,538
<NET-INCOME>                                         9,901
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             51
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        9,850
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                            10,110
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                           41,014
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                              18,796
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.70