<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,533,087
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     53,421
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         124,705
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       128,459
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,839,672
<COMMON>                                        40,918
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      306,376
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            343,980
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 691,274
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     72,680
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           576,201
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      325
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 499,192
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,839,672
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      574,251
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            36,043
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     444,298
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     480,341
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         93,910
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,635
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  97,545
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        31,270
<NET-INCOME>                                    66,275
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,658
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   62,617
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        67,515
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       29,872
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         121,812
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0