<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary information extracted from the Consolidated
Statements of Income, the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated
Statemnent of Cash Flows and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      255,261
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     18,563
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         143,653
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        37,565
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 455,042
<COMMON>                                        13,078
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       79,921
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            (2,540)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  90,459
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,269
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           103,548
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              98,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 158,866
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  455,042
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      498,064
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,328
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     478,902
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     482,230
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         15,834
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  15
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  15,849
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,274
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,575
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         12
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,563
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,596
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,385
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          36,174
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .50