<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      182,136
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          47,133
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        12,874
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 242,143
<COMMON>                                         1,244
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       37,685
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             39,311
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  78,240
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      6,400
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            72,372
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              20,410
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,707
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  61,014
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  242,143
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      210,673
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,489
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      72,996
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      77,485
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         15,831
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 371
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  16,202
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,431
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,771
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        626
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    8,145
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,777
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,042
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          28,281
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     6.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     6.55