<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET, STATEMENT OF INCOME AND STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS CONTAINED IN FORM 10-K OF
ESSEX COUNTY GAS COMPANY FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                       82,017
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        740
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                           9,042
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         4,241
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                     551
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  96,590
<COMMON>                                        21,805
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             16,515
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  38,296
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            28,199
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               6,825
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      675
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        492
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    59
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  22,044
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                   96,590
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       50,821
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,399
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      41,303
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      43,702
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          7,119
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 228
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   7,347
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,075
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,272
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,272
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,852
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        2,515
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           5,014
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.45