<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
BALANCE SHEET, INCOME STATEMENT AND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE 3 MONTHS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS APPEARING ON PAGE 5
OF FORM 10-Q FOR 3 MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   39,150,061
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  3,258,674
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      13,009,828
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     2,651,232
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              58,069,795
<COMMON>                                     1,834,445
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,374,519
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         10,994,406
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>              14,203,370
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                        13,500,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          17,700,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>              12,666,425
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               58,069,795
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   11,163,872
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           236,189
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  10,475,119
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  10,711,308
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        452,564
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             202,657
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 655,221
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       526,463
<NET-INCOME>                                   128,758
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                3,845,145
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                     (2,183,501)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .07