<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 FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE COMPANY'S FORM
10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      126,022
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,106
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          31,880
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         1,253
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   6,280
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 166,541
<COMMON>                                            49
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       18,135
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             41,711
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  59,895
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            58,979
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              12,665
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    4,600
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  30,402
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  166,541
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       74,022
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,967
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      55,872
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      55,872
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         18,150
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (4,766)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  18,857
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,473
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,417
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    8,417
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,088
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        4,917<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          14,561
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.73<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.71<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
FASB 128. 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 5 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1998.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>