<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,020,576
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     25,543
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         293,191
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        60,440
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,399,750
<COMMON>                                       302,514
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            227,869
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 530,383
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           423,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             101,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    2,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 342,867
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,399,750
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      268,648
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,740
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     199,148
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     222,888
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         45,760
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,627
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  53,387
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,293
<NET-INCOME>                                    44,094
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   44,094
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,822
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           9,205
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.40