<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-Mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 508,710 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 606 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 74,103 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 18,217 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 601,636 <COMMON> 20,189 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 130,977 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 80,324 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 231,490 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 174,050 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 38,000 <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> 148,796 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 601,636 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 298,520 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 18,633 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 78,081 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 96,714 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 41,137 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 2,643 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 43,780 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,261 <NET-INCOME> 30,519 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 30,519 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 13,737 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 65,119 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.52 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.51