<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      475,990
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      8,708
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         132,910
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        31,382
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  49,506
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 698,496
<COMMON>                                        44,691
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      101,379
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            102,761
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 248,831
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      5,047
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           209,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              41,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      196,500
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  13,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,025
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,151
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 193,093
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  698,496
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      181,296
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,693
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     140,445
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     155,138
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         26,158
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,414
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  27,572
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,027
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,545
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         75
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   23,470
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,026
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          (2,545)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.82
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.82