<ARTICLE> UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      167,770
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          43,155
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        12,892
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 223,817
<COMMON>                                         1,244
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       37,636
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             39,901
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  78,781
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      8,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            72,557
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               4,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       72,800
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,600
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,751
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   394
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  57,585
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  223,817
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      179,053
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             5,753
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           0
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      61,580
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         16,563
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 919
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  17,482
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,582
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,900
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        522
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,378
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,433
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,362
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          19,127
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     9.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     9.15