<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      163,757
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,570
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           8,356
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        15,594
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 189,277
<COMMON>                                        42,579
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             13,490
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  56,069
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        772
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            54,532
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               8,811
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  69,093
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  189,277
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       38,501
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,486
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      23,681
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      28,167
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         10,334
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 774
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  11,108
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,304
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,804
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         38
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,766
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,215
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,460
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          14,042
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.24