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

                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                  121,244,520
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                  1,774,106
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      11,925,041
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                    13,715,855
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             148,659,522
<COMMON>                                                    29,988,966
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                         19,226,847
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                              49,215,813
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                0
<PREFERRED>                                                  2,666,305
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                        52,960,953
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                   39,047
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                              43,816,451
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                              148,659,522
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                   38,024,669
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                         2,526,297
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  27,275,926
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  29,802,223
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                      8,222,446
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                             225,168
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                               8,447,614
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     3,280,154
<NET-INCOME>                                                 5,167,460
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    158,926
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                5,008,534
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     4,604,504
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    2,885,250
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      10,256,725
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                     1.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                     1.20