<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE COMPANY FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE 
COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      124,519
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,237
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          19,766
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         1,302
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   6,237
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 153,061
<COMMON>                                            49
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       17,834
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             38,399
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  56,282
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            62,053
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               2,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    2,471
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  29,755
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  153,061
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       20,074
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,172
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      15,705
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      16,877
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          3,197
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 194
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   3,391
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         1,402
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,989
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    1,989
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           972
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,973<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         (1,596)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .41<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .40<F2>
<FN>
<F1>TOTAL INTEREST ON BONDS REPRESENTS INTEREST EXPENSE RELATED TO LONG-TERM
DEBT OUTSTANDING UNDER FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS AND LONG-TERM SECURED NOTES.
<F2>REPRESENTS BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE COMPUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SFAS 128 WHICH WAS EFFECTIVE FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997. AMOUNTS
HAVE BEEN RESTATED TO REFLECT THREE-FOR-TWO CONVERSION OF MOBILE GAS COMMON
STOCK INTO ENERGYSOUTH COMMON STOCK EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 2, 1998.  SEE NOTE 1
AND NOTE 4 OF NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE
COMPANY'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31,1997.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>