<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000043350
<NAME> ENERGY WEST INC
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   26,926,402
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      8,261
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      13,965,372
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     3,142,911
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              44,042,946
<COMMON>                                       353,623
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,932,962
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          9,183,645
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>              12,470,230
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         9,685,474
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          10,050,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  356,968
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>              11,480,270
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               44,042,946
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   34,175,478
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           751,804
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  31,220,035
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  31,971,839
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      2,203,639
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             313,689
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               2,517,328
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     1,150,969
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,366,359
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                9,183,645
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       739,224
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      518,113
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       (850,886)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0