<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET INCOME STATEMENT AND STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES
CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS. </LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1998 
<PERIOD-START>                                         JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                           SEP-30-1998 
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                               79,792,209
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                             26,567,443
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  20,977,538 
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                11,716,399
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         139,053,589
<COMMON>                                                 2,470,819 
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                               23,903,562
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                     27,908,713
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                          54,878,856
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                    37,870,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                       5,200,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                              520,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                          40,584,733
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                          139,053,589
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                              139,995,969
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                     1,731,775
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              27,731,584
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                              29,463,359
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                  5,272,272
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         223,468
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                           5,495,740
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 2,471,129
<NET-INCOME>                                             3,024,611
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                            3,024,611
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                 3,492,935
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                2,226,800
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                  10,045,773
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 0.60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 0.60