<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,276,750
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    319,161
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         389,900
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       167,257
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,153,068
<COMMON>                                        16,167
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      499,499
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            339,293
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 854,959
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      6,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           724,429
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          300
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 566,480
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,153,068
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,057,660
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            55,033
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     855,249
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     910,282
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        147,378
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,028
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 150,406
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        40,033
<NET-INCOME>                                   110,373
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        254
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  110,119
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        50,269
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       34,625
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         230,336
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.29