<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      209,166
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          18,860
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        33,179
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 261,205
<COMMON>                                         1,244
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       42,454
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             47,479
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  91,177
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            88,976
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              11,800
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,393
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  62,659
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  261,205
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      179,339
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,728
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     158,195
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     162,923
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         16,416
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 935
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  17,351
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,556
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,795
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        348
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    9,447
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,775
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,806
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          27,964
<EPS-BASIC>                                       7.60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     7.60