<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated balance sheets and the statements of capitalization at December 31,
1998, and the consolidated statements of income and cash flow for the year ended
December 31, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                 PRO-FORMA
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      609,746
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         62
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          30,956
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         7,108
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  53,578
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 701,450
<COMMON>                                         4,652
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      160,440
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             66,447
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 231,539
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,220
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           261,826
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        5,305
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    2,452
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 197,108
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  701,450
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      150,977
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,605
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      84,298
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     103,903
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         47,074
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                   0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  47,074
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        18,255
<NET-INCOME>                                    28,819
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        195
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   28,624
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        18,313
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       16,751
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          55,205
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.03