<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                      MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>          510,460
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>            886
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>              89,075
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>           101,267
<OTHER-ASSETS>                         903
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     702,591
<COMMON>                             5,848
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>          102,817
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                 68,243
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>     176,908
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               35,000
<PREFERRED>                          2,134
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>               195,523
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                  59,000
<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>     228,150
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>      702,591
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>          135,082
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                12,718
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>          98,553
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         111,271
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>             23,811
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                       0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>      23,811
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>             5,021
<NET-INCOME>                        18,790
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>            773
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>       18,018
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>             4,050
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>            4,107
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>              55,082
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         7.70
<EPS-DILUTED>                         7.70