<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   12,945,383
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,286,904
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,006,154
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,099,522
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              16,337,963
<COMMON>                                     2,255,811
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,619,225
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               3,875,036
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         6,655,750<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             510,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  169,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,128,177
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               16,337,963
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    3,289,505
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            76,269
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,659,814
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   2,736,083
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        553,422
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             260,287
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 813,709
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       472,098
<NET-INCOME>                                   341,611
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  341,611
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       341,574
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      444,018
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       (122,862)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.45
<FN>
<F1>See Note F to financial statements; includes long term note payable.
</FN>