<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,004,260
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     25,764
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         152,094
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        43,350
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,225,468
<COMMON>                                       293,286
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            214,168
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 507,454
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           333,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                       59,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   46,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 280,014
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,225,468
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      591,717
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            43,630
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     456,520
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     500,150
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         91,567
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (243)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  91,324
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        24,309
<NET-INCOME>                                    67,015
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   67,015
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        31,407
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          65,876
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.15