<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                 PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     436,997
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         67,993
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                      101,742
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  1,852
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                608,584
<COMMON>                                        5,848
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                     102,817
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            59,244
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                167,909
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          35,000
<PREFERRED>                                     2,224
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                          178,002
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             14,500
<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>                202,073
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                 608,584
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                     184,930
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            8,912
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    150,869
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    159,781
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        25,149
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 25,149
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        9,220
<NET-INCOME>                                   15,929
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       557
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  15,372
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        7,650
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       7,776
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         29,758
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    6.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    6.57