<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CASH
FLOWS AND CAPITALIZATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      294,256
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     52,661
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          70,421
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        25,842
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 443,180
<COMMON>                                       105,812
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       22,462
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             30,689
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 158,963
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           158,192
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               9,404
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,419
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 111,202
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  443,180
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      205,407
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             6,802
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     179,808
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     186,610
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         18,797
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,822
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  21,619
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,208
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,411
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,411
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,530
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,824
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          53,605
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.11