<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      210,074
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          41,845
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        34,250
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 286,169
<COMMON>                                         1,244
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       42,188
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             50,547
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  93,979
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            86,818
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              19,600
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,246
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  79,326
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  286,169
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       53,052
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,205
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      44,573
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      46,778
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          6,274
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 125
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   6,399
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,067
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,332
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         70
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,262
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         1,194
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        1,764
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           3,301
<EPS-BASIC>                                       3.43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.43