<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      484,473
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     13,214
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          95,296
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        42,732
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 635,715
<COMMON>                                        44,501
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      100,302
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             86,538
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 231,341
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      5,219
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           198,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               5,950
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      178,000
<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>                 191,458
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  635,715
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      357,654
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            18,597
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     298,135
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     316,732
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         40,922
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,348
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  42,270
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        12,707
<NET-INCOME>                                    29,563
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        225
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   29,338
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        14,742
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          84,553
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.20