<ARTICLE>                                           UT
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000

                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      530,185
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        562
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          86,635
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        24,840
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 642,222
<COMMON>                                        20,578
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      138,551
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             81,720
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 240,849
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           157,250
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              69,000
<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>                 168,323
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  642,222
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      261,590
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            18,128
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      85,940
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     104,068
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         38,551
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,460
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  41,011
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        13,485
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,526
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   27,526
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        14,690
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       10,352
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          68,315
<EPS-BASIC>                                     1.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.33