<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 46,056,645 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 7,722,702 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 4,525,322 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 58,304,669 <COMMON> 15,932 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 19,256,710 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 3,971,719 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 22,343,982 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 9,268,450 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 2,179,000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 5,549,000 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 3,157,516 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 2,711,874 <LEASES-CURRENT> 83,947 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 13,010,900 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 58,304,669 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 28,648,048 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 1,029,700 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 24,045,098 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 25,074,798 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 3,573,250 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 67,228 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 3,625,722 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,238,476 <NET-INCOME> 2,387,246 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 2,387,246 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 879,347 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 759,270 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 4,226,103 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.50 <EPS-DILUTED> 0