<ARTICLE> UT

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      542,361
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     67,309
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         151,181
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        60,216
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 821,067
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      209,976
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             37,037
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 242,154
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           268,902
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              42,055
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,788
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 7,664
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 258,504
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  821,067
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      644,838
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,307
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     584,277
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     603,291
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         41,547
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 544
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  42,091
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,987
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,104
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   27,104
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         9,330
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,221
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          76,116
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.13