<ARTICLE>UT
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS OF INCOME,  BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                                           1,000


                                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                      9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                                     OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                       JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                       PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                          1,428,764
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                            1,800
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               295,024
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                             124,864
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     1,850,452
<COMMON>                                                              46,612
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                            368,963
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                  325,191
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                       740,766
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                           28,173
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                 559,554<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                         0<F2>
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                        58,776<F2>
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                          1,865
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                       461,318
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                      1,850,452
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                          1,045,443<F3>
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                  58,665<F4>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           854,563<F4>
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                           913,228<F4>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                              132,215
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                      (113)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                       132,102
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              32,375
<NET-INCOME>                                                          99,727
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              993
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                         98,734
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                              42,974
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             32,375<F5>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                               135,317
<EPS-BASIC>                                                             2.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           2.12
<FN>
<F1> REPRESENTS TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT INCLUDING $553,700 IN UNSECURED MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, $6,540 IN OTHER LONG-TERM
DEBT AND $(686) IN UNAMORTIZED PREMIUM AND DISCOUNT-NET.
<F2> TOTAL OF SHORT-TERM NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL PAPER TIES TO BALANCE SHEET CAPTION ENTITLED NOTES PAYABLE.
<F3> INCLUDES UTILITY AND NON-UTILITY OPERATING REVENUES, AS WELL AS A $629,000 LOSS ON THE COMPANY'S 50% EQUITY
INVESTMENT IN A RESIDENTIAL HVAC SUBSIDIARY.
<F4> INCLUDES UTILITY AND NONUTILITY EXPENSES.
<F5> REPRESENTS TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE, PER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME.
</FN>