<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>