<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      535,403
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     72,376
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         193,526
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        60,850
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 862,155
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      209,370
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             23,075
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 227,261
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           268,884
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             106,380
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      8,126
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,805
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 249,699
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  862,155
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      229,598
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,891
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     212,259
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     217,182
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         12,416
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (59)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  12,357
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,439
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,918
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,918
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,106
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        2,033
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (10,708)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.55