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

  

<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000764403
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      614,661
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     83,813
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          59,855
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        30,895
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 789,224
<COMMON>                                       170,751
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      (3,845)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             52,922
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 219,828
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           12,000
<PREFERRED>                                        227
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           273,485
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              41,984
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       13,190
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       30
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                   9,656
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  790,228
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       35,476
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,213
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      24,588
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      26,801
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          8,675
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,310
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  10,985
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,482
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,503
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        203
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,300
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,339
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,134
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          11,968
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .74<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .73<F1>
<FN>
<F1>All amounts in thousands of dollars except per share amounts.
</FN>