<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>                           3-MOS
   <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       SEP-30-1997
   <PERIOD-START>                          OCT-01-1997
   <PERIOD-END>                            DEC-31-1997
   <BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
   <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                  289,436 
   <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                 51,732 
   <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      85,257 
   <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                    60,338 
   <OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0 
   <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             486,763 
   <COMMON>                                                    66,637 
   <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                        0 
   <RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                         55,868 
   <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                             122,505 
   <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0 
   <PREFERRED>                                                    883 
   <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       187,374 
   <SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                          30,500 
   <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0 
   <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0 
   <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                4,085 
   <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0 
   <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0 
   <LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0 
   <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                             141,416 
   <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                              486,763 
   <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                   92,396 
   <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                         6,799 
   <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  74,125 
   <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  80,924 
   <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     11,472 
   <OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                             550 
   <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              12,022 
   <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     3,899 
   <NET-INCOME>                                                 8,123 
   <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     15 
   <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                8,108 
   <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     2,163 
   <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                      533 
   <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                     (10,040)
   <EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 0.85 
   <EPS-DILUTED>                                                 0.85 
           <PAGE>

</TABLE>