<ARTICLE>  UT
   <LEGEND>
   <MULTIPLIER>  1,000
          
                                        
   <PERIOD-TYPE>                           6-MOS
   <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       SEP-30-1996
   <PERIOD-START>                          OCT-01-1996
   <PERIOD-END>                            MAR-31-1997
   <BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
   <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                  283,401 
   <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                 52,540 
   <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      92,271 
   <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                    61,547 
   <OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0 
   <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             489,759 
   <COMMON>                                                   119,026 
   <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                        0 
   <RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                         60,368 
   <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                             179,394 
   <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0 
   <PREFERRED>                                                    885 
   <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       135,464 
   <SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                               0 
   <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0 
   <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0 
   <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                               13,914 
   <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0 
   <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0 
   <LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0 
   <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                             160,102 
   <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                              489,759 
   <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                  213,950 
   <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        19,870 
   <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 168,609 
   <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 188,479 
   <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     25,471 
   <OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                             265 
   <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              25,736 
   <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     6,331 
   <NET-INCOME>                                                19,405 
   <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     31 
   <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               19,374 
   <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     8,033 
   <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    1,413 
   <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      21,343 
   <EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 1.82 
   <EPS-DILUTED>                                                 1.82