<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      493,564
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,251
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          93,640
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        33,767
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  54,031
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 684,253
<COMMON>                                        44,761
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      101,784
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             81,441
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 227,986
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      5,009
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           196,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              64,650
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      196,500
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  18,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   18,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        694
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   917
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 171,414
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  684,253
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      428,784
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,953
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     372,539
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     389,492
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         39,292
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,843
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  43,135
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,063
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,072
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        293
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   26,779
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,361
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                          694
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           7,138
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.98