<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A)The
Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Statement for the 3 months ended
Dec. 31, 1997, (B)Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements appearing
on page 7 of form 10-Q for the three months ended December 31, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                              OCT-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   39,529,589
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  4,725,358
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      15,450,301
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       947,682
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              60,652,930
<COMMON>                                     1,834,445
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    4,970,728
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         11,241,177
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>              18,046,350
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                        19,500,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          10,400,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>              12,706,580
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               60,652,930
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   11,272,777
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           486,199
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   9,995,278
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  10,481,477
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        791,300
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             245,204
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,036,504
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       488,637
<NET-INCOME>                                   547,867
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                4,547,867
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         263,030
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .27