<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) BALANCE
SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
(B) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN THIS REPORT FILED ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
MARCH 31,1996.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      337,597
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        755
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          42,183
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,675
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 408,210
<COMMON>                                        19,613
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       54,752
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             46,962
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 121,327
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              520
<PREFERRED>                                      1,600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           106,283
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              23,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       98
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           40
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        887
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   286
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 154,169
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  408,210
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       30,397
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,618
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      24,069
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      25,687
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          4,710
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  48
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   4,758
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,590
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,168
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         24
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    2,144
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,393
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          10,428
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .27