<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      524,008
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     20,001
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         159,882
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        19,337
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  49,023
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 772,251
<COMMON>                                        45,144
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      103,933
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             71,108
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 220,185
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           239,475
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              82,700
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      220,722
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  20,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,247
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 228,644
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  772,251
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      450,032
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,165
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     429,367
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     437,532
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         12,500
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              12,647
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  25,147
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        18,513
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,634
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        118
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,516
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        21,635
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       18,513
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          25,590
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .47