<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                    
<C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                
  3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1996 
           SEP-30-1997             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             SEP-30-1996 
           DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK 
              PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     13140883                13185928 
                     0                       0
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    1081257                 1084068 
                     0                       0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         5004352                 3844049 
                     0                       0
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       2148819                 2491373 
                     0                       0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0                       0 
                     0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                21423167                20557562 
                     0                       0
<COMMON>                                       2300000                 2300000 
                     0                       0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       653346                  653346 
                     0                       0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            2179744                 2194382 
                     0                       0
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 5133090                 5147728 
                     0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0 
                     0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0 
                     0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           6200000                 6300000 
                     0                       0
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             3440000                 2725000 
                     0                       0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0                       0 
                     0                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0                       0 
                     0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   100000                  100000 
                     0                       0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0                       0 
                     0                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0                       0 
                     0                       0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0 
                     0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 6550077                 6284834 
                     0                       0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                 21423167                20557562 
                     0                       0
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            0                       0 
               4885193                 4495304
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0                       0 
                 87562                   83455
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           0                       0 
               4368400                 3964971
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           0                       0 
               4455962                 4048426
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                              0                       0 
                429231                  446878
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                   0                       0 
                 81831                  111019
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                       0                       0 
                511062                  557897
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0                       0 
                231300                  246209
<NET-INCOME>                                         0                       0 
                279762                  311688
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0                       0 
                     0                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                        0                       0 
                279762                  311688
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0                       0 
                147200                  144900
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0                       0 
                145758                  148258
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                               0                       0 
                612995                (304834)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0 
                  .608                    .678
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0 
                     0                       0
        

</TABLE>