<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                           AUG-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               51,309,817
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                              8,045,439
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  18,712,937
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                20,412,415
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          98,480,608
<COMMON>                                                 4,993,028
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                               24,811,079
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                      8,187,112
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          35,222,876
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                    27,039,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                       2,300,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                2,598,849
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                            2,288,937
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                              1,527,655
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                           774,946
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          26,728,345
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                           98,480,608
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                               81,588,896
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                     1,330,045
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              73,900,591
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              75,230,636
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                  6,358,260
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         288,464
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                           6,646,724
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 3,040,763
<NET-INCOME>                                             3,605,961
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                            3,605,961
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 3,698,155
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                2,482,840
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                   7,109,834
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 0.73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 0.73