<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>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,076,506
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      2,776
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         277,587
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       118,616
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,475,485
<COMMON>                                        43,409
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      295,032
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            262,825
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 601,266
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     28,467
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           353,860<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              15,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      269,390<F2>
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   8,794
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    8,006
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        568
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   568
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 459,524
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,475,485
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      706,152
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            62,856
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     520,817
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     583,673
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        122,479
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (1,565)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 120,914
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,665
<NET-INCOME>                                   105,249
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        666
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  104,583
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        24,491
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       15,665<F3>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          55,180
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.42
<FN>
<F1>Represents total long-term debt including $85,500 in First Mortgage Bonds,
    $269,200 in unsecured medium-term notes, $190 in other long-term debt and
    $(1,030) in unamortized premium and discount-net.
<F2>Includes $269,200 in unsecured medium-term notes and other notes of $190.
<F3>Represents total interest expense, per the Statement of Income.
</FN>