<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 526,596 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 572 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 100,196 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 15,780 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 643,144 <COMMON> 20,568 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 138,456 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 85,730 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 244,754 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 157,250 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 62,500 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 6,800 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 171,840 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 643,144 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 207,528 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 15,825 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 60,959 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 76,784 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 33,595 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1,657 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 35,252 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,462 <NET-INCOME> 25,790 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 25,790 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 9,507 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 7,045 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 49,591 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.26 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.25