<ARTICLE>                                           UT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Aug-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   Aug-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                   Per-Book
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      1,621,746
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                       71,855
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           168,492
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         135,724
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                         0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,997,817
<COMMON>                                          40,918
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        307,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              386,717
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                   735,119
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                             622,931
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                     0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                              0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                    69,624
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                     15,176
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                              0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                            0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                   554,967
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  1,997,817
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                        899,397
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                              59,880
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       688,851
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                       748,731
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          150,666
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 4,693
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   155,359
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          49,586
<NET-INCOME>                                     105,773
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        2,494
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    103,279
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          90,020
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                         44,863
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           180,086
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       2.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0