<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>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      302,676
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     54,944
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         126,969
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        29,060
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 513,649
<COMMON>                                       108,056
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       22,462
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             26,766
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 157,284
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           153,859
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              65,688
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    7,679
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 129,139
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  513,649
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      353,382
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,018
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     319,277
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     326,295
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         27,087
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,875
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  31,962
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,760
<NET-INCOME>                                    17,202
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   17,202
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        13,243
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       11,354
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          27,731
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.31