<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      248,217
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      2,772
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          86,268
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        75,568
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 412,825
<COMMON>                                         8,936
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       89,673
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             48,286
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 149,895
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           119,182
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              20,600
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      594
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 125,554
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  412,825
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      189,964
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            12,620
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     150,989
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     163,609
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         26,355
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (252)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  26,103
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         6,439
<NET-INCOME>                                    19,664
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   19,664
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,779
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,403
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          19,711
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0