<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                      SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>          480,463
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>            666
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>              64,409
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>           106,360
<OTHER-ASSETS>                       1,121
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     653,019
<COMMON>                             5,848
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>          102,817
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                 51,537
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>     160,202
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               35,000
<PREFERRED>                          2,134
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>               166,853
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                  94,800
<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>     185,154
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>      653,019
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>          204,221
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                 7,120
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         173,069
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         180,189
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>             24,032
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                       0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>      24,032
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>            13,912
<NET-INCOME>                        10,120
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>          2,317
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>        7,803
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>            12,386
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>           11,182
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>               7,442
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         3.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                         3.34