<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      494,597
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      6,186
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          65,996
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        71,970
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 638,749
<COMMON>                                        34,163
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      108,292
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             73,166
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 215,621
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           24,267
<PREFERRED>                                     10,819
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           165,280
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  33,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    6,300
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                         85
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    14
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 182,863
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  638,749
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      331,847
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,715
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     276,347
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     291,062
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         40,785
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,819
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  44,604
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,436
<NET-INCOME>                                    29,168
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,469
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   26,699
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,225
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       13,590
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          66,745
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.74