<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      512,936
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     10,365
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         115,158
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        34,273
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  49,387
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 722,119
<COMMON>                                        45,025
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      103,126
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             86,227
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 234,378
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      4,917
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           229,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              51,625
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      229,500
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  18,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 196,699
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  722,119
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      473,581
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,979
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     431,877
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     448,856
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         24,725
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              19,179
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  43,904
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        17,842
<NET-INCOME>                                    26,062
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        288
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   25,774
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,988
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          44,540
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.92
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.91