<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      295,508
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     56,790
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          99,473
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        35,226
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 486,997
<COMMON>                                        67,061
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             73,687
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 140,748
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        850
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           216,530
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,287
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 125,582
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  486,997
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      280,247
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            22,002
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     228,251
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     250,253
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         29,994
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,332
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  31,326
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        11,897
<NET-INCOME>                                    19,429
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         45
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   19,384
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,745
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        1,036
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          41,543
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.24