<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>                             0000046189
<NAME>              ESSEX COUNTY GAS COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                           1,000
       
                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         12-MOS   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                AUG-31-1996    
<PERIOD-END>                     AUG-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                        PER-BOOK 
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>             76,314       
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>              634
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 9,043
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>               3,128
<OTHER-ASSETS>                           654
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        89,772
<COMMON>                              19,235
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                   13,834
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>    33,069
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      0
<PREFERRED>                                0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                  19,766
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                    11,940
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>            924
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                          50
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>        23,554
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>         89,772
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>             49,929
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                   1,793
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>            41,467
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>            43,260
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                6,669
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                         2
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>         6,671
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>               3,849
<NET-INCOME>                           3,836
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>               14
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>          3,836
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>               2,578
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>              1,967
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                 6,227
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           2.36   
<EPS-DILUTED>                           2.36