<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>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,098,811
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      2,796
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         184,597
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       116,256
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,402,460
<COMMON>                                        43,578
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      298,247
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            244,655
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 586,480
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     28,454
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           353,876<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      269,390<F2>
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    8,006
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        514
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   514
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 425,130
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,402,460
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      863,912
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            59,882
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     679,964
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     739,846
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        124,066
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (1,355)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 122,711
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        22,883
<NET-INCOME>                                    99,828
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        999
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   98,829
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        36,908
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       22,883<F3>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         128,688
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.28
<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
$(1,014) 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>