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

  

<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000032379
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      610,035
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,057
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          42,105
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        29,912
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 689,109
<COMMON>                                        15,741
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      134,335
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             60,305
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 210,381
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           12,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           245,151
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              20,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<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>                 198,230
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  685,792
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       31,066
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,189
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      20,860
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      23,049
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          8,017
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 131
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   8,148
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,865
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,283
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        203
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,080
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,339
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,757
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          11,586
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0