<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