<ARTICLE> UT   
<MULTIPLIER> 1000   
          
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996   
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997   
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK   
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      236,707   
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,257   
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          22,862   
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0   
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  31,944   
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 298,770   
<COMMON>                                         9,907   
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       19,235   
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             90,112   
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 119,254   
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0   
<PREFERRED>                                          0   
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            75,000   
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0   
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0   
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0   
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,500   
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0   
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0   
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0   
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 103,016   
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  298,770   
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       20,787   
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,392   
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      16,256   
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      17,648   
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          3,139   
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 354   
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   3,493   
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         1,487   
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,006   
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0   
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    2,006   
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         1,807   
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        1,487   
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           5,409   
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .63   
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .63