<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ROANOKE GAS
COMPANY'S ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AS
SET FORTH IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, AS IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   40,910,506
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  2,333,225
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      14,832,708
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 844,660
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              58,921,099
<COMMON>                                     7,379,215
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    4,647,163
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          6,948,623
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>              18,975,001
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                        20,222,124
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           6,652,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  669,423
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>              12,402,051
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               58,921,099
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   65,770,873
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           963,895
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  60,771,674
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  61,735,569
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      4,035,304
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              77,740
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               4,113,044
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     1,916,372
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,196,672
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                2,196,672
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     1,491,077
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    1,252,134
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       (625,680)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.51