<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated statements of income, the consolidated balance sheets and the
consolidated statement of cash flows and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      260,028
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     24,120
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         107,580
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        36,336
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 428,064
<COMMON>                                        14,441
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       90,368
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              (449)
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 104,360
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,262
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           140,012
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              71,168
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 109,262
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  428,064
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      331,143
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,844
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     318,369
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     320,213
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         10,930
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 643
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  11,573
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,196
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,377
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         97
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    5,565<F1>
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,374
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,937
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          53,990
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .39<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .39<F2>
<FN>
<F1>Includes the cumulative effect of a change in accounting for property taxes of
$1,784 and extraordinary charge due to early retirement of debt of $499.
<F2>Adjusted to give retroactive effect to a 5% stock dividend payable in May 1998.
Prior Financial Data Schedules have not been restated for this dividend.
</FN>