<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START>                              OCT-1-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1994
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK    
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      475,177
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     13,275
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         125,427
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        41,642
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 655,521
<COMMON>                                        44,459
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      100,083
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             77,476
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 222,018
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      5,293
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           193,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              53,625
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      173,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  20,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,719
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,028
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 177,838
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  655,521
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      115,602
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             6,635
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      94,651
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     101,286
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         14,316
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  37
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  14,353
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,876
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,477
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         76
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   10,401
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,869
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           4,730
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .77