<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 FOUR MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   4-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                       82,187
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        740
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          13,313
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         1,169
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                     532
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  97,941
<COMMON>                                        27,805
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              7,356
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  35,137
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            27,599
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               8,935
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      600
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                        472
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    60
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  25,138
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                   97,941
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       16,637
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             (595)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      21,785
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      21,190
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        (4,553)
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  61
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 (4,492)
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         1,067
<NET-INCOME>                                   (8,433)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (8,433)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           726
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                          819
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         (5,539)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0