<ARTICLE> UT

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      562,383
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     56,289
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         190,340
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        65,752
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 874,764
<COMMON>                                             0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      215,423
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             48,697
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 258,880
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           268,938
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              62,240
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,639
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,286
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 280,781
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  874,764
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      712,724
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            18,911
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     652,304
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     671,063
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         41,661
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 282
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  41,943
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,125
<NET-INCOME>                                    26,818
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   26,818
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         9,502
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,600
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          51,127
<EPS-BASIC>                                      $2.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $2.08