<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 295,508
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 56,790
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 99,473
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 35,226
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 486,997
<COMMON> 67,061
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 73,687
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 140,748
0
850
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 216,530
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 3,287
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 125,582
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 486,997
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 280,247
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 22,002
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 228,251
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 250,253
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 29,994
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1,332
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 31,326
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,897
<NET-INCOME> 19,429
45
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 19,384
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 6,745
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 1,036
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 41,543
<EPS-BASIC> 2.25
<EPS-DILUTED> 2.24
</TABLE>
