<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      202,115
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          25,047
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,519
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 254,681
<COMMON>                                         1,244
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       37,619
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             53,103
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  91,966
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            90,729
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               3,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,015
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  62,771
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  254,681
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      160,079
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,052
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     134,069
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     141,121
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         18,958
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 694
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  19,652
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,497
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,155
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        278
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   13,877
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,581
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,027
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          24,046
<EPS-BASIC>                                      11.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    11.16