<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