<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                           AUG-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               50,447,115
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                              7,680,927
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  20,205,007
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                19,364,088
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          97,697,137
<COMMON>                                                 4,900,028
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                               24,034,924
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                      8,279,306
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          34,307,209
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                    27,090,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                       1,900,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                4,895,986
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                              150,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                              1,541,418
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                           835,957
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          26,976,567
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                           97,697,137
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                               87,483,977
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                     1,334,677
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              79,545,189
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              80,879,866
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                  6,604,111
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         423,476
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                           7,027,587
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 3,368,274
<NET-INCOME>                                             3,659,313
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                            3,659,313
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 3,130,413
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                1,957,052
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                   6,164,833
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 0.86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 0.86