<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 294,669 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 11,295 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 20,223 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 0 <OTHER-ASSETS> 41,840 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 368,027 <COMMON> 9,516 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 12,355 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 117,324 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 139,195 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 90,000 <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> 138,832 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 368,027 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 88,916 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 7,587 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 65,834 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 73,421 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 15,495 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 913 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 16,408 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,144 <NET-INCOME> 11,264 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 11,264 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 5,552 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 5,144 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 19,082 <EPS-BASIC> 3.65 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.65