UNITED STATES
               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     WASHINGTON, DC  20549
                           FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

[x]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1999

                               OR

[ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from            to

Commission file number 0-1055

                FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANY
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Florida                                   59-0539080
(State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 
 incorporation or organization)

401 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL          33401
  (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)   (561)  832-2461

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last  
 report)

  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x    No

       APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
          PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS

  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and
reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a
plan confirmed by a court.  Yes    No

              APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS

  Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes
of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.  At April 30, 1999
there were 3,010,791 shares of $1.50 par value common shares outstanding.










                FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANY
       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
                         (in thousands)


                                              March 31,  December 31, 
                                                 1999        1998     

ASSETS

Utility Plant                                 $119,793       $117,656 
  Less accumulated depreciation                 43,260         42,429 
      Net utility plant                         76,533         75,227 
 
Current Assets
  Cash and overnight investments                   648            564 
  Accounts receivable                            8,064          7,765 
  Inventories and prepayments                    3,691          3,824 
      Total                                     12,403         12,153 

Investments Held in Escrow for
  Environmental Costs                            3,140          3,133 

Deferred Charges                                 1,936          1,893 

      Total                                   $ 94,012       $ 92,406 


CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

Capitalization
  Common shareholders' equity                 $ 28,682       $ 27,622 
  Preferred stock                                  600            600 
  Long-term debt                                23,500         23,500 
      Total                                     52,782         51,722 

Current Liabilities
  Notes payable                                  7,600          8,200 
  Accounts payable                               4,724          5,388 
  Taxes accrued                                  1,207            194 
  Other                                          4,959          4,631 
  Customer deposits                              3,883          3,867 
      Total                                     22,373         22,280 

Deferred Credits                                10,648         10,326 

Deferred Income Taxes and
  Regulatory Liability                           8,209          8,078 

      Total                                   $ 94,012       $ 92,406 



                 FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANY
     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
          (dollars in thousands, except per share data)



                                                   Three Months Ended   
                                                       March 31,       
                                                  1999           1998 

Revenues
  Electric                                       $ 8,742        $ 9,096 
  Natural gas                                      8,982          9,754 
  Propane gas                                      1,256          1,438 
  Water                                              527            424 
    Total revenues                                19,507         20,712 

  Cost of fuel and taxes
   based on revenues                              11,468         12,793 

Operating Margin                                   8,039          7,919 

Operating Expenses
  Operations                                       3,439          3,461 
  Depreciation                                     1,131          1,046 
  Taxes other than income taxes                      581            542 
  Income taxes                                       780            782 
    Total operating expenses                       5,931          5,831 

Operating Income                                   2,108          2,088 

Interest Expense                                    (733)          (709)
Other - Net                                           76             24 

Net Income                                         1,451          1,403 

Preferred Stock Dividends                              7              7 

Earnings for Common Stock                        $ 1,444        $ 1,396 

Earnings Per Common Share                        $   .48        $   .47 

Dividends Per Common Share                       $   .16        $   .15 

Average Shares Outstanding                     3,006,341      2,985,804



                FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANY
  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
                         (in thousands)


                                                     Three Months Ended   
                                                         March 31,       
                                                    1999           1998 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
  Net income                                      $1,451         $1,403 
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to
    net cash provided by operating activities
    Depreciation                                   1,131          1,046 
    Other                                            133           (144)
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities
    Receivables                                     (300)           220 
    Inventories and prepayments                      133            232 
    Accounts payable and accruals                    693          1,011 
    Over recovery of fuel costs                      119            195 
    Other                                              6             59 

    Net cash provided by operating activities      3,366          4,022 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
  Construction expenditures                       (2,461)        (1,418)
  Other                                              169            (22)

    Net cash used by investing activities         (2,292)        (1,440)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities
  Net change in short-term borrowings               (600)        (1,700)
  Dividends paid                                    (487)          (454)
  Other                                               97             91 

    Net cash used by financing activities           (990)        (2,063)

Net Increase in Cash                                  84            519 

Cash at Beginning of Period                          564            123 

Cash at End of Period                             $  648         $  642 



                FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANY
      NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                         MARCH 31, 1999

1.   In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying condensed
     consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting
     only of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the
     financial information contained therein.  The results of operations
     are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full
     year.

2.   The First Mortgage Bond Indentures provide for restrictions on the
     payment of cash dividends.  At March 31, 1999, under the most
     restrictive provision, approximately $7,000,000 of retained earnings
     were unrestricted.

                FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANY
            MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
         FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                         MARCH 31, 1999



Financial Condition.  The Company has a $15,000,000 line of credit with its
primary bank of which $7,600,000 is outstanding.  The line provides for
interest at LIBOR plus fifty basis points.  The Company is approved by the
Florida Public Service Commission to borrow up to $15,000,000 on a line of
credit basis, $14,000,000 of which is available for general corporate
purposes with the remaining $1,000,000 reserved as a contingency for major
storm repairs in the Marianna electric division.

Overview.  The Company is organized into three regulated operations:  natural
gas, electric and water and a non-regulated operation, propane gas.  The
water operations are not significant, approximating 3% of revenues.

Contributing to variations in operating margins are the effects of seasonal
weather conditions, the timing of rate increases and the migration of winter
residents and tourists to Florida during the winter season.

Operating Margin                          1999          1998           1997 

  Natural Gas                          $ 4,339       $ 4,323        $ 3,866

  Propane Gas                          $   844       $   820        $   760 

  Electric                             $ 2,351       $ 2,371        $ 2,312 


Operating Margin.  Operating margin, defined as gross operating revenues less
fuel costs and taxes based on revenues which are passed-through to customers,
provides a more meaningful basis for evaluating utility operations.  Fuel
costs and taxed passed-through to customers have no effect on results of
operations and fluctuations in such costs distort the relationship of gross
operating revenues and operating margin (net revenues retained by the company
for operating purposes).

Three Months Ended March 31, 1999 Compared
with Three Months Ended March 31, 1998

Natural and Propane Gas Service.  Natural gas service operating margin
increased $16,000 in 1999 as compared with 1998.  The slight increase in
natural gas operating margin was principally due to a 4% increase in average
customers as compared with 1998, and was affected by weather 30% warmer than
the same period last year and 50% warmer than normal.  Propane gas operating
margin increased $24,000 or about 3% versus 1998 and was also affected by the
warmer weather.  Propane gas had a 10% decrease in average customers for
1999, most of whom were converted to natural gas.  The  increase in propane
operating margin is primarily due to the propane rate increase that became
effective in April 1998.

Electric Service.  Electric service operating margin decreased $20,000 versus
1998. Average customers increased 1.7% as compared with the first quarter
last year, however consumption remained neutral due to the warmer weather.

Operating Expenses.  In 1999, operating expenses, excluding fuel costs and
taxes passed-through to customers, increased $102,000 or about 1.3% in
relation to operating margin.


Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 Compared
with Three Months Ended March 31, 1997

Natural and Propane Gas Service. Natural gas service operating margin
increased $457,000, about 12% in 1998 as compared with 1997.  The increase in
natural gas operating margin was due to a 1.3% increase in average customers
for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 and an increase in per customer
consumption of about 12%, resulting from an increase in heating degree days
of approximately 60%. Propane gas operating margin increased $60,000 or about
8% as compared with 1997.  Propane gas had an 0.8% decrease in average
customers for the quarter ended March 31, 1998, some of whom were converted
to natural gas.  The net increase in average consumption per customer is
primarily due to the increase in heating degree days.

Electric Service.  Electric service operating margin increased $59,000, or
2.6% versus the first quarter of 1997.  There was an 0.8% decrease in average
consumption per customer which was more than compensated for by a 2.3% growth
in average customers for the quarter.

Operating Expenses. In 1998, operating expenses, excluding fuel costs and
taxes passed-through to customers, increased $78,000, or about 1% in relation
to operating margin.  Generally, operating expenses have increased marginally
due to inflationary pressures with depreciation accounting for approximately
two-thirds of the overall increase.  Most of the increase in depreciation is
attributable to growth in utility plant.

Other Matters  

The Year 2000 Project.  The Company has evaluated and identified its state of 
readiness regarding all known Year 2000 issues and their effect on the
Company's  information systems.  The Company is utilizing both internal and
external resources to evaluate and remediate required modifications.  The
Company's software profile consists of approximately one-half purchased
software systems and one-half internally developed systems.   The purchased
software consists of various financial applications and the meter reading
system.  The Company plans to complete the Year 2000 project, including
testing of all systems by July 1999.  Such plans are based on management's
best estimates and the ability to locate and correct all relevant computer
codes on a timely basis.  However, there is no guarantee that everything will
proceed as planned and actual results could differ from these plans.

The Company is utilizing its in-house programming staff to modify internally
developed systems in preparation for the Year 2000. The modification costs,
consisting of salary and related costs, are not significant and are being
expensed as incurred.  The purchased financial software systems were Year
2000 compliant when they were placed in service several years ago and do not
require any modifications.  The Company's meter reading system will be
replaced with a Year 2000 compliant system in the second quarter of 1999 at
an estimated expenditure of $80,000.

The Company is communicating with its significant suppliers to determine
their Year 2000 status and is attempting to identify areas of concern. 
However, there can be no guarantee that the systems of other companies will
be converted timely, or that a failure to convert by a supplier would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company. 

The Company presently believes that with modifications to existing internal
software systems and conversion to a new meter reading software, any Year
2000 issues will be neutralized with no significant adverse effect on
customers or disruption to business operations.  If such modifications are
not completed, the Year 2000 issue could have a material adverse effect on
the Company. The Company is currently in the process of adopting a
contingency plan to address possible risks to its systems. 

Forward Looking Information.  This report contains forward looking
information that is intended to qualify for the safe harbor provided by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Although the Company
believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, actual
results could differ materially from those currently anticipated.  Factors
that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated include, but
are not limited to, uncertainties relative to the impact of Year 2000, the
effects of regulatory actions, competition, future economic conditions and
weather.

PART II.

                       OTHER INFORMATION


Item 4.  Submission of matters to a vote of security holders.

         (a) The annual meeting of stockholders was held on April 20, 1999.

         (b) Not applicable.

         (c) None

         (d)  None.

Item 6.  Exhibits and reports on Form 8-K.

         (a)  None.

         (b)  Reports on Form 8-K:
              There were no reports on Form 8-K filed for the quarter ending
              March 31, 1999.

                           SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,

the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by 

the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                         
                                   FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANY
                                   (Registrant)




                                   

                                   By    /s/ Jack R. Brown           

                                   Jack R. Brown
                                   Treasurer
                                   (DULY AUTHORIZED OFFICER
                                            AND
                                   CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER)


April 28, 1999