<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