<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      292,916
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      8,564
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          58,235
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        18,425
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  12,960
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 391,100
<COMMON>                                        29,800
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       64,284
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             48,212
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 142,296
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           120,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              38,722
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       59
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        963
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   620
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  88,440
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  391,100
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       87,994
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,788
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      60,600
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      70,388
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         17,606
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (260)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  17,346
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,230
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,116
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   15,116
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,078
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        2,133
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          13,494
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.69