<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      239,953
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,305
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          27,924
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  34,772
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 309,954
<COMMON>                                         9,907
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       19,235
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             95,132
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 124,274
<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>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 110,680
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  309,954
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       31,555
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,571
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      21,810
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      25,381
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          6,174
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 413
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   6,587
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         1,463
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,124
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    5,124
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         1,807
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        1,463
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           8,998
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.62