<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      484,231
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     57,272
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         115,000
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        64,359
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 720,862
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      177,346
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             25,751
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 200,122
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           230,100
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              60,730
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      9,454
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,439
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 219,017
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  720,862
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      125,175
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                               225
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     119,876
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     120,101
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          5,074
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 973
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   6,047
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,682
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,365
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    1,365
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,636
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        1,958
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          43,274
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.12