<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
 THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
 STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, AND CONSOLIDATED
 STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, AND QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
 SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                      OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                        JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>               1,414,587
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                18,326
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                    390,896
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                   28,019
<OTHER-ASSETS>                             44,190
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          1,896,018
<COMMON>                                  290,792
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                       474,933
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>            765,725
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0
<PREFERRED>                                     0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                      527,004
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                            814
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>            602,475
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>           1,896,018
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>               1,009,375
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                       53,719
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                838,176
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                891,895
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                   117,480
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                          2,845
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>            120,325
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   29,659
<NET-INCOME>                               90,666
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>              90,666
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                   49,921
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                  26,816
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                    155,105
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                2.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                2.57