<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 three months ended November 30,
1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                           NOV-30-1996 
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                   77,729
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                    688
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      14,431
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                     3,621
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                 642
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                              97,111
<COMMON>                                                    19,464
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                        0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                         12,915
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          32,441
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                        19,094
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                          18,385
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                  854
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                    591
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                51
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                              25,695
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                               97,111
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                    8,142
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                            38
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                   7,633
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                   7,671
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                        471
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                            (21)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                 450
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       711
<NET-INCOME>                                                 (261)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                (261)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       658
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                      477
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                     (3,920) 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               (0.16)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               (0.16)