<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      501,566
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,019
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         154,467
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        42,214
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  48,824
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 756,090
<COMMON>                                        44,812
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      102,089
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             89,396
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 236,297
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      5,010
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           216,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              86,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      216,500
<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>                 193,089
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  756,090
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      137,000
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,283
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     112,241
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     120,524
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         16,476
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 951
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  17,427
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,223
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,204
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         73
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   13,131
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,176
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (18,544)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.97