<ARTICLE> UT
<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>         454,239
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>             83,556
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>          109,869
<OTHER-ASSETS>                      1,449
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    649,113
<COMMON>                            5,848
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>         102,817
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                56,120
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>    164,785
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>              35,000
<PREFERRED>                         2,224
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>              175,860
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                 45,900
<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>    216,468
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>     649,113
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>         327,548
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>               11,559
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>        275,993
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>        287,552
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>            39,996
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                      0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>     39,996
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>           17,996
<NET-INCOME>                       22,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>         2,102
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>      19,898
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>           15,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>          15,165
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>             39,788
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        8.51
<EPS-DILUTED>                        8.51