<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 548,249 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 2,295 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 113,799 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 115,955 <OTHER-ASSETS> 376 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 780,674 <COMMON> 5,848 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 125,817 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 60,634 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 192,299 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 35,000 <PREFERRED> 1,804 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 207,123 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 93,800 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 11,876 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 238,772 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 780,674 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 287,498 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 9,747 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 247,421 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 257,168 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 30,330 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 0 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 30,330 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,246 <NET-INCOME> 15,084 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 2,307 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 12,777 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 10,600 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 11,787 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 34,829 <EPS-BASIC> 5.46 <EPS-DILUTED> 5.46