<ARTICLE> UT <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> 535,700 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 1,701 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 92,972 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 101,256 <OTHER-ASSETS> 599 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 732,228 <COMMON> 5,848 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 117,817 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 71,851 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 195,516 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 35,000 <PREFERRED> 2,044 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 181,373 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 82,000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 8,876 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 227,419 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 732,228 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 147,002 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 12,608 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 111,002 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 123,610 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 23,392 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 0 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 23,392 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,027 <NET-INCOME> 18,365 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 771 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 17,594 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 4,200 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 3,833 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 48,905 <EPS-BASIC> 7.52 <EPS-DILUTED> 7.52