<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SECTION OF THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,058,033
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          38,702
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        48,323
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,145,058
<COMMON>                                        85,474
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      192,717
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             68,818
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 347,009
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           467,559
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 104,521
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     15,899
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   456
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 209,614
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,145,058
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      235,252
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            35,739
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      99,666
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     135,405
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         99,847
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,394
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 103,241
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        42,959
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,282
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   60,282
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       145,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       29,450
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         123,344
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   60,282
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   60,282