<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      500,238
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,946
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         112,817
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        43,548
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  45,216
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 711,765
<COMMON>                                        44,940
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      102,727
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            107,800
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 255,467
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      4,986
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           234,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              14,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      216,500
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  18,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        352
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   673
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 202,460
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  711,765
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      421,580
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            27,561
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     356,134
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     383,695
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         37,885
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              18,218
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  56,103
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        13,867
<NET-INCOME>                                    42,236
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        216
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   42,020
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,661
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          57,981
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.10