<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) THE
BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO (B) THE
COMPANY'S FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997.
</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>                      124,919
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        946
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          28,731
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         1,306
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   5,965
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 161,867
<COMMON>                                            32
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       17,763
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             37,382
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  55,177
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            63,580
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              10,700
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    2,930
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  29,480
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  161,867
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       72,670
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,712
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      54,692
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      54,692
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         17,978
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (5,140)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  18,453
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,615
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,126
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    8,126
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,748
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,040<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          14,929
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>TOTAL INTEREST ON BONDS REPRESENTS INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO LONG-TERM DEBT
OUTSTANDING UNDER FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS AND LONG-TERM SECURED NOTES.
</FN>