WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  
                  
<ARTICLE>               UT      
<LEGEND> 
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE INTERIM
CONSOLIDATED  INCOME  STATEMENT,  BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                       
<MULTIPLIER>            1,000   
                        
                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      3-MOS   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  SEP-30-1997     
<PERIOD-START>                                     OCT-01-1996     
<PERIOD-END>                                       DEC-31-1996     
<BOOK-VALUE>                                       PER-BOOK        
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> .................        1,144,312
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> ...............            3,063
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> ....................          379,033
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> ..................          114,099
<OTHER-ASSETS> ............................                0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> ............................        1,640,507
<COMMON> ..................................           43,742
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> .................          301,518
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> .......................          238,262
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> ............          583,522
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> .....................                0
<PREFERRED> ...............................           28,435
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> ......................          401,203 <F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> ........................                0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> ................           37,900 <F2>
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> ............           79,981 <F2>
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> .............           13,706
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> .................                0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> ...............                0
<LEASES-CURRENT> ..........................              266
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> ............          495,494
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> .............        1,640,507
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> .................          344,958
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> ......................           21,490
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> ................          277,412
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> ................          298,902
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> ...................           46,056
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> ........................              551
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> ............           46,607
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> ..................            9,183
<NET-INCOME> ..............................           37,424
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> ...............              333
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> .............           37,091
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> ..................           12,455
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> .................            9,183 <F3>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> ....................           (8,397)
<EPS-PRIMARY> .............................             0.85
<EPS-DILUTED> .............................             0.85

                                
                                                        
<F1> REPRESENTS TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT INCLUDING $85,500 IN FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS,                  
$316,500 IN UNSECURED MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, $184 IN OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT AND $(981)                        
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> REPRESENTS TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE, PER STATEMENT OF INCOME.