<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                      SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>          524,219
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>          1,346
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>              71,785
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>           114,790
<OTHER-ASSETS>                         674
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     712,814
<COMMON>                             5,848
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>          117,817
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                 54,751
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>     178,416
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               35,000
<PREFERRED>                          2,044
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>               185,704
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                  89,700
<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>     213,074
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>      712,814
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>          253,425
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                 9,855
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         213,655
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>         223,510
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>             29,915
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                       0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>      29,915
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>            14,976
<NET-INCOME>                        14,939
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>          2,313
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>       12,626
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>            12,150
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>           11,826
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>              48,188
<EPS-BASIC>                         5.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                         5.40