<ARTICLE> UT
       
                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  545,622,000
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                121,587,000
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                     156,408,000
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                   282,506,000
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,106,123,000
<COMMON>                                    31,224,000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                   56,595,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         78,777,000
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             166,596,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                  3,750,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       425,281,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                7,814,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             506,682,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>            1,106,123,000
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  918,070,000
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                        11,111,000
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 859,073,000
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 870,184,000
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     47,886,000
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                          11,564,000
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              59,450,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    31,476,000
<NET-INCOME>                                27,974,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  2,853,000
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               23,411,000
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    16,640,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                   11,969,240
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      62,667,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.31