<TABLE> <S> <C>








   <ARTICLE>  UT
   <LEGEND>                                THIS    SCHEDULE   CONTAINS
                                           SUMMARY           FINANCIAL
                                           INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM
                                           THE   CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE
                                           SHEETS,    STATEMENTS    OF
                                           INCOME,    STATEMENTS    OF
                                           CASHFLOWS AND STATEMENTS OF
                                           CAPITALIZATION    AND    IS
                                           QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY
                                           BY   REFERENCE    TO   SUCH
                                           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
   <MULTIPLIER>  1,000
          
   <S>                                     <C>
   <PERIOD-TYPE>                           6-MOS
   <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       SEP-30-1997
   <PERIOD-START>                          OCT-01-1997
   <PERIOD-END>                            MAR-31-1998
   <BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
   <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                  305,233 
   <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                 34,680 
   <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      83,437 
   <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                    35,522 
   <OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0 
   <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             458,872 
   <COMMON>                                                    66,605 
   <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                        0 
   <RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                         63,509 
   <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                             130,114 
   <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0 
   <PREFERRED>                                                    883 
   <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       183,364 
   <SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           6,000 
   <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0 
   <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0 
   <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                4,086 
   <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0 
   <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0 
   <LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0 
   <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                             134,425 
   <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                              458,872 
   <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                  197,812 
   <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        16,550 
   <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 155,621 
   <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 172,171 
   <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     25,641 
   <OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                              75 
   <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              25,716 
   <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     7,866 
   <NET-INCOME>                                                17,850 
   <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     31 
   <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               17,819 
   <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     4,326 
   <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    1,035 
   <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      24,128 
   <EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 1.96 
   <EPS-DILUTED>                                                 1.96 
           <PAGE>

</TABLE>