<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      471,120
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          72,702
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       102,758
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   1,384
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 647,964
<COMMON>                                         5,848
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      102,817
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             59,697
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 168,362
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           35,000
<PREFERRED>                                      2,134
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           166,853
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              72,300
<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>                 194,439
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  647,964
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      160,704
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,451
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     129,159
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     138,610
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         22,094
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                   0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  22,094
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,135
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,959
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,276
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,663
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,106
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,783
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          12,583
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.99
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.99