<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      245,233
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,330
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          29,608
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  37,565
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 319,736
<COMMON>                                         9,907
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       19,235
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            100,163
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 129,305
<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>                 115,431
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  319,736
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       86,378
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,551
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      62,317
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      70,868
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         15,510
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,196
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  16,706
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,422
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,284
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   12,284
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,421
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,422
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          21,210
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.87