<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS STATEMENT CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET, STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOW, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000077231
<NAME> PENNSYLVANIA ENTERPRISES INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  262,977,000
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 13,631,000
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      75,546,000
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    36,676,000
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             388,830,000
<COMMON>                                    48,721,000
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                   23,089,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         50,295,000
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             122,105,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          640,000
<PREFERRED>                                 15,864,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       127,000,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           2,170,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>               24,776,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                       80,000
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>              96,195,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              388,830,000
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                  228,046,000
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         7,374,000
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 199,117,000
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                 206,491,000
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                     21,555,000
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           1,221,000
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>              22,776,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     9,634,000
<NET-INCOME>                                13,142,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  1,312,000
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>               11,830,000
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    11,501,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    4,837,000
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      18,501,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.30