WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  531,214,534
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 13,938,203
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      29,383,823
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    42,943,133
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             617,479,693
<COMMON>                                   141,708,140
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  (3,844,809)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         42,337,887
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             180,201,218
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 12,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       193,646,977
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          46,000,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   30,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             185,601,498
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              617,479,693
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   27,264,652
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         1,730,685
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  19,178,960
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  20,909,645
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      6,355,007
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             828,481
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               7,183,488
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     3,062,291
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,121,197
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    203,250
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                3,917,947
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     3,894,286
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    3,451,566
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         561,273
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .51