<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000764403
<NAME> E'TOWN CORPORATION
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  519,048,241
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 13,783,181
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      28,792,027
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    42,117,699
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             603,741,148
<COMMON>                                   139,882,122
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                  (3,844,809)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         42,314,221
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             178,351,534
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 12,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       193,673,252
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                          32,500,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   30,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             187,186,362
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              603,741,148
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   25,760,090
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         1,342,599
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  18,849,303
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  20,191,902
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      5,568,188
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             809,319
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               6,377,506
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     2,997,941
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,379,565
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                    203,250
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                3,176,315
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     3,856,837
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    3,451,284
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       3,765,033
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .42