<ARTICLE>               UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      102,460
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     11,387
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          17,504
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         5,493
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 136,844
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       21,087
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             19,854
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  40,941
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              445
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            43,007
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               9,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      260
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  42,691
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  136,844
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       60,104
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,620
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      52,032
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      53,652
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          6,452
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 250
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   6,702
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,613
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,089
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         22
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    2,067
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,794
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,868
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           6,592
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .70