<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BALANCE
SHEETS AND INCOME STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED
HEREWITH.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001056903
<NAME> SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER CO.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      405,748
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,602
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          43,653
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,768
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 478,771
<COMMON>                                        22,394
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       74,397
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             56,173
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 153,504
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              480
<PREFERRED>                                      1,600
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           130,803
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              19,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      130,092
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       75
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           40
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        926
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   140
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  478,771
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      111,958
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,484
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      84,074
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      92,558
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         19,400
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (78)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  19,322
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,338
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,984
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         68
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   10,916
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,465
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          26,180
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.22