<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>

This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
the balance sheet, statement of income and statement of cash flows
contained in Form 10-Q of Essex County Gas Company for the nine
months ended May 31, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>



<MULTIPLIER>                       1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>            AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                 MAY-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                    PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   73,558
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    535
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       8,405
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     3,643
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 666
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              86,807
<COMMON>                                    19,034
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         14,470
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>          33,485
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            0
<PREFERRED>                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                        19,905
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           7,515
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  844
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                48
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>              25,010
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               86,807
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   45,141
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         1,999
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  37,170
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  39,169
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      5,972
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               8
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               5,980
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     2,148
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,832
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     11
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                3,821
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     1,924
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    1,478
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       8,543
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 2.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 2.36