<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      464,300
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     49,069
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         102,103
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        62,494
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 677,966
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      171,968
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             10,118
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 179,107
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           230,100
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              54,895
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      950
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     10,466
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,634
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 200,814
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  677,966
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      468,978
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,148
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     428,286
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     436,097
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         32,881
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 625
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  33,506
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        18,610
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,896
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,896
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,700
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        7,087
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          22,530
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.52