<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1995 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 383574 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 943 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 52311 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 6194 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 443022 <COMMON> 18494 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 103942 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 59740 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 182176 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 109140 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 16500 <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> 125666 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 443022 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 90551<F1> <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 15973 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 42891 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 58864 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 31687 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (14) <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 31673 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6507 <NET-INCOME> 25166 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 25166 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 7542 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 5572<F2> <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 39727 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.37 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.36 <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>