<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000066004
<NAME> MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  180,795,238
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  2,552,594
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      18,829,440
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    12,286,039
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             214,463,311
<COMMON>                                    47,929,789
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         22,212,450
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>              70,142,239
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                  4,063,062
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                        82,281,557
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           2,500,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  222,397
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>              55,254,056
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              214,463,311
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   12,981,089
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           514,369
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  10,415,457
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  10,929,826
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      2,051,263
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              54,531
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               2,105,794
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     1,199,678
<NET-INCOME>                                   906,116
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     63,697
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  842,419
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     1,525,813
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    4,290,086
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       2,213,637
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.17