<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,043,900
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     24,871
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         253,982
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        63,496
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,386,249
<COMMON>                                       310,489
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            232,002
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 542,491
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           391,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             127,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   32,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 293,758
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,386,249
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      682,814
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            40,701
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     551,697
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     592,398
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         90,416
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               8,448
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  98,864
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        27,580
<NET-INCOME>                                    71,284
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   71,284
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        33,880
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          41,165
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.25