<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1994 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1994 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 376773 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 889 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 58225 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 6225 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 442112 <COMMON> 18301 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 101556 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 45027 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 164884 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 109380 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 31000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 9540 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 127308 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 442112 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 33099<F1> <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 4229 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 19032 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 23261 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 9838 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 12 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 9850 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3187 <NET-INCOME> 6663 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 6663 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 3752 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 2786<F2> <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 12285 <EPS-PRIMARY> .36 <EPS-DILUTED> .36 <FN> <F1>This item represents gross margin, or operating revenues less cost of gas. <F2>This item represents interest on both bonds and debentures. </FN>