<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      517,489
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     15,504
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         139,496
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        41,615
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  40,081
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 754,185
<COMMON>                                        45,112
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      103,689
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             93,193
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 241,994
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           238,512
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              28,700
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      243,755
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  25,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,243
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   352
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 214,384
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  754,185
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      398,759
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,737
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     348,273
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     365,010
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         33,749
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,295
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  37,044
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        13,807
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,237
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        118
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   23,119
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        21,480
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          12,485
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.71 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.68