<ARTICLE> UT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 199,150 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 36,394 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 15,517 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 251,601 <COMMON> 1,244 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 37,478 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 45,166 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 83,888 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 4,800 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 76,235 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 14,300 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 3,155 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 69,223 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 251,601 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 51,877 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 1,836 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 44,780 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 46,616 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 5,261 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 167 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 5,428 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,771 <NET-INCOME> 3,657 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 104 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 3,553 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1,194 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 1,546 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 6,356 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.86 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.86