<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      247,057
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,582
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         128,505
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        32,625
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 417,769
<COMMON>                                        12,390
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       79,299
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              5,645
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  97,334
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,269
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           103,573
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              61,400
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,468
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,561
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 148,164
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  417,769
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      252,735
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             5,082
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     234,912
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     239,994
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         12,741
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  79
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  12,820
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,227
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,593
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          4
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    9,589
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,437
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        2,129
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          35,418
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .74<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .74<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Adjusted to give retroactive effect to a 5% stock dividend payable in May
1997.  Prior Financial Data Schedules have not been restated for this dividend.
</FN>