<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 412,858 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 728 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 79,224 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 6,680 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 499,490 <COMMON> 18,793 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 108,230 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 51,166 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 178,189 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 93,900 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 77,000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 9,300 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 141,101 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 499,490 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 74,922 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 4,429 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 21,713 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 26,142 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 10,374 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 434 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 10,808 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,677 <NET-INCOME> 7,131 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 7,131 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 3,971 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> (2,629) <EPS-PRIMARY> .38 <EPS-DILUTED> .38