<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SECTION OF THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,036,500
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          38,001
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        46,029
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,120,530
<COMMON>                                        85,474
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      192,717
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             63,921
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 342,112
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           436,698
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  63,886
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   31,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     15,266
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   512
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 231,056
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,120,530
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       56,686
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,570
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      24,278
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      32,848
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         23,838
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 189
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  24,027
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        10,387
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,640
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   13,640
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        7,322
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          37,543
<EPS-BASIC>                                     13,640
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   13,640