<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
REGISTRANT'S DECEMBER 31, 1997 AUDITED BALANCE SHEET, INCOME STATEMENT
AND CASH FLOW STATEMENT, AND NOTES THERETO, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   13,211,516
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,114,697
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     1,148,510
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,016,704
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              16,491,427
<COMMON>                                     2,266,027
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,831,377
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,097,404
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         5,662,000<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           1,355,000
<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>               5,208,023
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               16,491,427
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    4,367,357
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            69,714
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,511,682
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,581,396
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        785,961
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             521,909
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,307,870
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       639,991
<NET-INCOME>                                   667,879
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  667,879
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       455,690
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      450,058
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         489,361
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.88
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.87
<FN>
<F1>See Note 4 to financial statements; includes long term note payable.
</FN>