<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2000, and the Consolidated
Statement of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2000, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 447,807
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 137,795
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 127,959
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 8,040
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 721,601
<COMMON> 119,250
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> (226)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 137,019
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 256,043
18,000
15,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 187,251
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 15,562
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 8,287
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 220,958
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 721,601
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 412,118
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 15,571
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 355,424
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 370,995
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 41,123
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1,565
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 42,688
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,509
<NET-INCOME> 30,179
1,409
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 28,770
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 18,245
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 12,257
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 36,085
<EPS-BASIC> 1.21
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.20
</TABLE>
