<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      175,199
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          72,512
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        12,800
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 260,511
<COMMON>                                         1,244
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       37,607
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             44,479
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  83,330
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      6,400
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            72,331
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              30,250
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       73,040
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,939
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,711
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   481
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  65,780
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  260,511
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      138,263
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             5,763
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     117,716
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     123,479
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         14,784
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 251
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  15,035
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,763
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,272
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        348
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   10,924
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,388
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,032
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           5,015
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     8.78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     8.78