<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 522,932 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 849 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 149,124 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 38,780 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 711,685 <COMMON> 20,578 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 139,135 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 72,538 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 232,251 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 150,450 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 137,500 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 6,800 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 184,684 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 711,685 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 81,072 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 3,838 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 67,940 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 71,778 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 9,294 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 954 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 10,248 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,131 <NET-INCOME> 5,117 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 5,117 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 5,114 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 3,207 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 5,561 <EPS-BASIC> .25 <EPS-DILUTED> .25