<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BALANCE
SHEETS AND INCOME STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED
HEREWITH.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      374,306
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,470
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          45,093
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,531
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 448,400
<COMMON>                                        22,394
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       74,937
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             52,944
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 150,275
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              480
<PREFERRED>                                      1,600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           113,223
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              19,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       63
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           40
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        953
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    88
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 162,678
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  448,400
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       45,700
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,912
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      33,403
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      37,315
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          8,385
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 197
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   8,582
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,538
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,044
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         23
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,021
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,777
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           8,183
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.67