<ARTICLE>UT <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form 10-Q for March 31, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000948362 <NAME> MOBILE ENERGY SERVICES CO LLC <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 352,226 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 32,832 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 14,017 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 399,075 <COMMON> 0 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 71,985 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 71,985 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 300,653 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> (7,670) <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 26,437 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 399,075 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 22,243 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 0 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 12,956 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 12,956 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 9,287 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 132 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 9,419 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,413 <NET-INCOME> 2,006 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 2,006 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 16,130 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0