<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