<ARTICLE>                       UT
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      434,336
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     22,744
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         107,785
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        71,829
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 636,694
<COMMON>                                        19,285
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       34,384
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            173,584
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 227,253
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,960
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           154,279
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  59,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 193,702
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  636,694
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      431,917
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,878
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      80,573
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     393,587
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         38,330
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,098
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  39,428
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        18,527
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,901
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         97
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   20,804
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,538
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,544
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          28,206
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.27

<FN>
Capital surplus, paid in includes $(24,017) treasury stock.
                                 
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