<ARTICLE>                     UT
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
       
                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1997   
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      468,189
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        654
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          87,185
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        14,258
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 570,286
<COMMON>                                        19,662
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      121,486
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             73,900
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 215,048
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           183,350
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              23,000
<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>                  139,588
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                   570,286
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       303,906
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             19,509
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       77,158
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       96,667
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          41,345
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                2,878
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   44,223
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         12,646
<NET-INCOME>                                     31,577
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    31,577
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         12,782
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           39,282
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      1.62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      1.61