<ARTICLE> UT <CIK> 0000043350 <NAME> ENERGY WEST, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 26,558,074 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 8,494 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 10,345,668 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 2,871,886 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 39,784,122 <COMMON> 351,973 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 2,843,250 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 7,674,397 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 10,869,620 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 9,690,714 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 9,360,000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 360,743 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 9,503,045 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 39,784,122 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 4,577,481 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> (375,396) <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 5,336,550 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 4,961,154 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> (383,673) <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 85,495 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> (298,178) <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 338,633 <NET-INCOME> (636,811) <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 7,674,397 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 245,302 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 172,703 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> (1,684,652) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.27) <EPS-DILUTED> 0