<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) BALANCE SHEETS
AND INCOME STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED
HEREWITH. 
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      359,342
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        774
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          37,605
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        28,167
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 425,888
<COMMON>                                        22,394
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       74,937
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             49,418
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 146,749
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              480
<PREFERRED>                                      1,600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           109,033
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              12,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       63
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           40
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        608
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   379
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 154,436
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  425,888
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       32,206
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,105
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      27,363
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      28,468
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          3,738
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  44
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   3,782
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,470
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,312
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         23
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    1,289
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,777
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           3,309
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .14