<ARTICLE>                                           UT
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2001
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      554,533
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     27,912
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         348,897
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       170,250
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,101,592
<COMMON>                                        20,744
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       61,820
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            212,595
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 295,159
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,763
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           234,394
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 198,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           21
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 371,455
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,101,592
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      345,025
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            10,630
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     309,278
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     319,908
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         25,117
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 992
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  26,109
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,592
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,517
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         22
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   18,495
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,324
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,377
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         (48,989)
<EPS-BASIC>                                      .98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .98
<FN>
Capital-surplus-paid-in is net of $24,017 of treasury stock.
                            Page 98