<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 548,833
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 26,546
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 192,596
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 163,765
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 931,740
<COMMON> 20,744
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 61,818
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 200,423
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 282,985
1,763
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 234,408
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 127,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0
50
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 285,534
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 931,740
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 566,128
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 14,105
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 502,812
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 516,917
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 49,211
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 762
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 49,973
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,008
<NET-INCOME> 25,965
93
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 25,872
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 25,297
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 15,164
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 3,046
<EPS-BASIC> 1.37
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.37
<FN>
Capital surplus, paid in includes $(24,017) treasury stock.
107
</TABLE>
