<ARTICLE> UT <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 47,406,685 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 8,742,916 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 3,779,807 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 59,929,408 <COMMON> 15,932 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 19,256,710 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 787,087 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 19,257,039 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 17,378,321 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 3,863,500 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 4,033,177 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 15,397,371 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 59,929,408 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 37,511,449 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 366,788 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 35,409,229 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 35,776,017 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 1,735,432 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (28,476) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 1,706,956 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,693,779 <NET-INCOME> 94,746 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 94,746 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1,771,528 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 757,170 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 4,904,345 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.06 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.06