<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