<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000764403
<NAME> E'TOWN CORPORATION
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             SEP-30-1997             DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      577,701                 566,965                 560,024
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     19,811                  19,796                  14,113
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          38,831                  38,705                  34,765
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        38,161                  48,211                  46,305
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 674,504                 673,677                 655,207
<COMMON>                                       154,229                 150,435                 144,923
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      (3,845)                 (3,845)                 (3,845)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             45,616                  45,710                  42,434
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 196,000                 192,300                 183,512
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                     12,000                  12,000                  12,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           253,236                 243,299                 193,481
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              11,000                  28,000                  69,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0                       0                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0                       0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                       30                      30                      30
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0                       0                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0                       0                       0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 202,238                 198,048                 197,184
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  674,504                 673,677                 655,207
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       31,267                  38,643                 110,409
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,237                   4,034                   6,791
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      20,575                  22,833                  77,331
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      22,812                  26,867                  84,122
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          8,455                  11,776                  26,287
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 127                      81                   2,916
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   8,582                  11,857                  29,203
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,216                   4,200                  13,316
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,366                   7,657                  15,886
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        203                     203                     813
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,163                   7,454                  15,073
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,107                   4,049                  15,634
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,985                   3,861                  13,800
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          16,628                  16,905                  17,664
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .52                     .94<F2>                1.97<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .51                     .92<F2>                1.96<F2>
<FN>
<F1>All amounts in thousands of dollars except per share amounts.
<F2>The three months ended September 30, 1997 and the twelve months ended December
31, 1996 are resubmitted for change in EPS calculation under SFAS No. 128.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>