<ARTICLE>        UT
<CIK>                                   0000046189      
<NAME>                    ESSEX COUNTY GAS COMPANY

<MULTIPLIER>                                 1,000
       
                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                            AUG-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                              PER-BOOK
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<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    719 
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<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 605 
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<COMMON>                                    20,321
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                        0
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<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>          35,409 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            0 
<PREFERRED>                                      0             
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<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        0 
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<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  961
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<LEASES-CURRENT>                                54 
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<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   53,535
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         2,280
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  44,533
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<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             338
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               7,060
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<NET-INCOME>                                 3,967
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      0
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 2.38
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