<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      500,840
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     11,164
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         185,491
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        40,683
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  55,268
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 793,446
<COMMON>                                        45,035
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      103,475
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             92,538
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 241,048
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      4,917
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           234,028
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              25,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      221,028
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  65,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        694
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 230,759
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  793,446
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      153,356
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,123
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     129,742
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     137,865
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         15,491
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 939
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  16,430
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,711
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,719
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         71
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,648
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,335
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (19,924)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.85