<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE COMPANY FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      114,228
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,916
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          15,600
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         1,611
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   5,818
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 139,173
<COMMON>                                         8,046
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        9,269
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             33,784
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  51,099
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            55,405
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               1,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    2,058
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  29,611
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  139,173
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       60,154
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             5,133
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      42,865
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      47,998
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         12,156
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 324
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  12,480
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,971
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,509
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    8,509
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,637
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,673<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          10,727
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.65
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.65
<FN>
<F1>1. Total interest on bonds represents interest expense related to long-term
debt outstanding under first mortgage bonds and long-term secured notes.
</FN>