WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

 

<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated balance sheets and the statements of capitalization at June 30,
2000, and the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and the
consolidated statements of cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2000, and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.


                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                         0
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,176,457
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        609
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          64,358
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        31,210
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  59,166
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,331,800
<COMMON>                                         6,286
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      257,123
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            110,589
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 373,998
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      1,760
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           457,335
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       94,926
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   16,473
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 387,308
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,331,800
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      133,004
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,657
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      77,035
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      92,692
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         40,312
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,678
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  41,990
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        18,126
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,864
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         53
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   23,811
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        14,755
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       33,813
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          36,990
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.58