<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      436,923
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     24,495
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          88,660
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        63,872
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 613,950
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      139,085
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             15,084
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 152,358
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           212,026
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              11,575
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,162
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     12,898
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,506
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 225,093
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  613,950
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      246,462
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             6,416
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     218,700
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     225,105
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         21,357
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 210
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  21,567
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,035
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,532
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   12,532
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,149
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,459
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          69,289
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.37