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

  

<ARTICLE>         UT
<MULTIPLIER>     1,000
       
                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9 MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      231,688
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,313
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          32,887
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  31,566
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 303,454
<COMMON>                                        10,139
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       21,971
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             88,818
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 120,928
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            76,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 105,026
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  303,454
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       79,837
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,345
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      58,464
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      65,809
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         14,028
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,522
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  20,550
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,562
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,988
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   15,988
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,403
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,562
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          15,980
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.93
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.93