<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     13378436                13140883
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    1055065                 1081257
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         4997946                 3844049
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       1858928                 2101871
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  405131                  389502
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                21695506                20557562
<COMMON>                                       2300000                 2300000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       653346                  653346
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            2211833                 2194382
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 5209437                 5147728
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           9400000                 6300000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              775000                 2275000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0                  100000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0                       0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 7086069                 6734834
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                 21695506                20557562
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                     17835687                15082135
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            245887                  185570
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    16194344                13936866
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    16440231                14122436
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        1395456                  959699
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              244833                  142382
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 1640289                 1102081
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        884538                  618695
<NET-INCOME>                                    755751                  483386
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   755751                  483386
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        738300                  434701
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       579595                  437273
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         1195528                 2158227
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.64                    1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>