<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,677,113
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     58,273
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         156,242
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       173,280
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,064,908
<COMMON>                                        40,918
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      307,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            370,909
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 719,311
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           620,278
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  89,682
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      229
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 635,408
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,064,908
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      440,536
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            22,454
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     350,103
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     372,557
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         67,979
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (11,560)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  56,419
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        24,383
<NET-INCOME>                                    29,201
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   29,201
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        45,010
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,897
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          31,780
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0