<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 277,657 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,412 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 4,821 <OTHER-ASSETS> 234,713 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 578,603 <COMMON> 0 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 225,667 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> (3,909) <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 221,758 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 120,000 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 60,820 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 100,000 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 620 <LEASES-CURRENT> 573 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 74,832 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 578,603 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 129,275 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 4,143 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 110,304 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 114,447 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 14,828 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 278 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 15,106 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,205 <NET-INCOME> 1,901 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 1,901 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 6,039 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 6,400 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> (415) <EPS-BASIC> 0.00 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.00