<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE INCOME
STATEMENT, BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,062,749
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      2,721
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         260,406
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       120,809
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,446,685
<COMMON>                                        43,261
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      291,503
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            208,625
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 543,389
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     28,471
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           379,063<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              16,700
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      227,390<F2>
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  20,723
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        6
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        808
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   808
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 457,525
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,446,685
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      274,326
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,292
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     204,013
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     227,305
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         47,021
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (851)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  46,170
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,830<F3>
<NET-INCOME>                                    38,340
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        333
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   38,007
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        12,112
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        7,830
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         (9,011)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .88
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .88
<FN>
<F1>Represents total long-term debt including, $152,825 in First Mortgage Bonds,
$227,200 in unsecured medium-term notes, $190 in other long-term debt and
$(1,152) in unamortized premium and discount-net.
<F2>Includes $227,200 in unsecured medium-term notes and other notes of $190.
<F3>Represents total interest expense, per the Statement of Income.
</FN>