<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     13876431                13378436
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    2222250                 1055065
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         4853975                 4997946
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       3459285                 2659118
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  412817                  405131
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                24824758                22495696
<COMMON>                                       2300000                 2300000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       653346                  653346
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            2403490                 2211833
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 5396479                 5209437
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           9400000                 9400000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             2325000                  775000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0                       0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0                       0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 7703279                 7111259
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                 24824758                22495696
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                     16673295                17835687
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            162792                  245887
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    15191735                16194344
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    15354527                16440231
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        1318768                 1395456
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              280550                  244833
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 1599318                 1640289
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        959161                  884538
<NET-INCOME>                                    640157                  755751
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   640157                  755751
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        448501                  738300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      1144000                  579595
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          942921                 1174531
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.39                    1.64
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>