<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BALANCE
SHEETS AND INCOME STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED
HEREWITH AS EXHIBIT NO. 27.
</LEGEND>


<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      345,005
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        762
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          46,355
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,604
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 419,726
<COMMON>                                        19,637
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       54,934
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             48,651
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 123,222
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              520
<PREFERRED>                                      1,600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           107,328
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              32,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       98
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           40
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        774
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   286
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 154,632
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  419,726
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       39,894
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,924
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      30,484
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      33,408
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          6,486
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 200
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   6,686
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,584
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,102
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         24
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,078
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,393
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          14,144
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .52