<ARTICLE>   UT
  <MULTIPLIER> 1000                                
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   AUG-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                        1,543,446
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         70,087
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                             171,129
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                           124,343
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                           0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,909,005
<COMMON>                                            40,918
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                          306,376
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                373,458
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                     720,752
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                         72,680
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                               582,276
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                       0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                           0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          276
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                              0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                         0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                     533,021
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                    1,909,005
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                          834,083
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                63,873
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         615,999
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                         679,872
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                            154,211
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                   7,200
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                     161,411
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            41,934
<NET-INCOME>                                       119,477
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          4,878
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                      114,599
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                            90,019
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                           40,506
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                             189,527
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         2.80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0