<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 452,082 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 678 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 119,743 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 9,772 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 582,275 <COMMON> 19,309 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 115,847 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 59,051 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 194,207 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 183,350 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 30,000 <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> 165,418 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 582,275 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 93,653 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 4,870 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 25,544 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 30,414 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 11,038 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 992 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 12,030 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,124 <NET-INCOME> 7,906 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 7,906 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 4,222 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 800 <EPS-PRIMARY> .41 <EPS-DILUTED> .41