<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      512,336
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     15,635
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         165,302
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        40,134
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  49,918
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 783,325
<COMMON>                                        45,094
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      103,461
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            107,219
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 255,774
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           238,592
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              12,921
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      243,839
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  49,770
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,247
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   352
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 220,669
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  783,325
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      326,953
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            21,641
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     266,158
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     287,799
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         39,154
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,229
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  41,383
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,599
<NET-INCOME>                                    31,784
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        118
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   31,666
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        21,311
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          31,425
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.30