<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,522,910
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     53,508
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         102,408
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       127,761
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,806,587
<COMMON>                                        40,918
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      306,479
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            341,275
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 688,672
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     72,680
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           576,259
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      500
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 107,073
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,806,587
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      369,065
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            21,749
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     289,443
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     311,192
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         57,873
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,290
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  60,163
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        20,317
<NET-INCOME>                                    39,846
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,439
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   37,407
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        45,010
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       19,059
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          60,598
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.91
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0