<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-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,214,016
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      3,121
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         219,974
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       114,921
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,552,032
<COMMON>                                        43,742
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      302,118
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            243,175
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 589,035
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     28,430
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           431,575<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      376,290<F2>
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  67,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   20,862
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,289
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   495
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 412,941
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,552,032
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,055,754
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            47,864
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     892,615
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     940,479
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        115,275
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 886
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 116,161
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        34,142
<NET-INCOME>                                    82,019
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,331
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   80,688
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        51,139
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       34,142<F3>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         154,803
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.85
<FN>
<F1>Represents total long-term debt including $56,000 in First Mortgage Bonds,
$375,400 in unsecured medium-term notes, $890 in other long-term debt and $(715)
in unamortized premium and discount-net.
<F2>Includes $375,400 in unsecured medium-term notes and other notes of $890.
<F3>Represents total interest expense, per Statement of Income.
</FN>