<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