<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> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,048,197 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 87,466 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 49,820 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,185,483 <COMMON> 85,474 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 192,717 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 153,536 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 431,727 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 467,447 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 79,696 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 16,356 <LEASES-CURRENT> 419 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 189,838 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,185,483 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 240,166 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 24,785 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 115,367 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 140,152 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 100,014 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (19,673) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 80,341 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 46,015 <NET-INCOME> 34,326 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 34,326 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 64,000 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 29,443 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 123,264 <EPS-PRIMARY> 34,326 <EPS-DILUTED> 34,326