<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Statements of Income, the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      236,183
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,391
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         111,115
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        31,137
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 387,826
<COMMON>                                        12,416
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       79,766
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             15,915
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 108,097
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,269
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           103,573
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              51,700
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      3,056
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,451
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 116,680
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  387,826
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      349,600
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,233
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     331,778
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     335,011
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         14,589
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (481)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  14,108
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,118
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,990
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         12
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    5,978
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,191
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,385
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          27,736
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .48