<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      476,833
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     19,002
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         107,689
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,972
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  34,160
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 665,656
<COMMON>                                        44,558
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      100,695
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             84,319
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 229,572
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      5,144
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           214,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              33,950
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      201,500
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  13,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,611
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,108
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 179,771
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  665,656
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      132,725
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,850
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     106,267
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     115,117
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         17,608
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 807
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  18,415
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,037
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,378
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         74
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,304
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,011
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (19,434)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.07