<ARTICLE> UT

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   AUG-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                      PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                       52,334,424
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,458,484
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          18,611,848
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        21,817,770
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                           0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 100,222,526
<COMMON>                                         4,993,028
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       24,756,209
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              8,649,997
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  35,805,323
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            27,029,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               4,800,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        2,443,911
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                           0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      150,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        775,132
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   780,723
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  28,438,437
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  100,222,526
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       81,710,177
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,772,370
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      73,042,463
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      74,814,833
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          6,895,344
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 299,205
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   7,194,549
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,007,940
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,186,609
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                              0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,186,609
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,723,724
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        2,388,817
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           8,105,213
<EPS-BASIC>                                         0.84
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.84