<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended June 30, 1995.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      391,185
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        949
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          37,173
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         6,199
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 435,506
<COMMON>                                        18,603
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      105,346
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             56,365
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 180,314
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           109,140
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              18,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    9,540
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 118,012
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  435,506
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      221,175
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,310
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      63,194
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      79,504
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         35,282
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  93
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  35,375
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,604
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,771
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   25,771
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,202
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          50,862
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.39
<FN>
<F1>This item is not required to be presented in the interim financial statements.
</FN>